OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate patients suffering from burning mouth syndrome (BMS) and control subjects by means of sensory testing and fungiform papillae count. STUDY DESIGN: The left and right anterior two-thirds of the tongue of of 25 BMS subjects and 20 healthy control subjects were evaluated for electric taste and electric detection threshold. The number of fungiform papillae/cm(2) was evaluated by using close-up digital photography. RESULTS: The electric taste/tingling detection threshold ratio was significantly higher in BMS compared with control subjects (P = .041). No difference was found between the number of fungiform papillae/cm(2) in the BMS compared with the control subjects (P = .277). Patients suffering from BMS for a prolonged period of time presented with a significantly elevated electric taste/tingling detection threshold ratio (P = .031). CONCLUSIONS: BMS may be a neurodegenerative process with chorda tympani nerve hypofunction potentially playing a role in the pathophysiology of this disorder.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate patients suffering from burning mouth syndrome (BMS) and control subjects by means of sensory testing and fungiform papillae count. STUDY DESIGN: The left and right anterior two-thirds of the tongue of of 25 BMS subjects and 20 healthy control subjects were evaluated for electric taste and electric detection threshold. The number of fungiform papillae/cm(2) was evaluated by using close-up digital photography. RESULTS: The electric taste/tingling detection threshold ratio was significantly higher in BMS compared with control subjects (P = .041). No difference was found between the number of fungiform papillae/cm(2) in the BMS compared with the control subjects (P = .277). Patients suffering from BMS for a prolonged period of time presented with a significantly elevated electric taste/tingling detection threshold ratio (P = .031). CONCLUSIONS: BMS may be a neurodegenerative process with chorda tympani nerve hypofunction potentially playing a role in the pathophysiology of this disorder.