Low Level Laser Therapy Plus Topical Clonazepam Treatment to Burning Mouth Symdrome

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a condition that affects the oral mucosa; this is seen mainly in postmenopausal women. The intensity of burning and its clinical manifestations may be variable between patients. The etiology of the BMS is unknown, just as it is the therapeutic; hence the latter has not been fully accepted. Therefore, the use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and topical clonazepam have been proposed as treatment alternatives. The objective is to assess the effectiveness of the combination of LLLT and topical clonazepam for the reduction of burning symptoms. Three groups will be randomly formed: 1) the first group will received topical clonazepam therapy (half of a 2 mg tablet), patients in this group will be asked to applied it in a mouthwash type for 3 minutes and then spit it out; to the same group, six sessions of LLLT (Biolase 10 ©) will be applied in every second day intervals; 2) the second group, will received the same treatment with clonazepam and laser therapies with similar characteristics to the study group, but the laser will be deactivated; 3) the third group, will receive six sessions of LLLT (Biolase 10 ©) in every second day intervals and placebo tablets with similar characteristics to those of clonazepam. For all groups, both treatments will be received for two weeks. For the assessment of oral burning the visual analog scale (VAS) and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) will be used; with these tools we will measure how oral disorders affect daily life. The measurement scales will be applied at the initial assessment and at day 14th, one month, two months and three months post treatment. The means obtained to assess the effectiveness of the treatment will be compared.