Refractory craniofacial pain: is there a role of periodontal disease as a comorbidity?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of the periodontal disease (PD), a chronic infection, in patients with chronic craniofacial pain complaints.


METHODS
Twenty patients with chronic craniofacial pain and PD (CFP group) and 20 patients with PD (PD group) were assessed before and after periodontal treatment (baseline, 30 and 180 days after treatment). The parameters evaluated were: plaque index, bleeding index, clinical probe insertion, Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) for pain intensity and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) for the 'chief complaint'.


RESULTS
After 180 days PD was controlled in both groups (p<0.001); the VAS decreased in CFP group (p<0.001); 'chief complaint' improved (p=0.005 and p=0.027, respectively in CFP and PD group). VRS showed improvement between the groups in 30 (p=0.004) and 180 days (p=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest a possible influence of periodontal disease, as a comorbidity, in refractory craniofacial pain patients and in their pain levels.
Fabri
Gisele Maria Campos
GM
Dentistry Division and Experimental Physiopathology Program, Hospital das Clínicas, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Siqueira
Silvia R D T
SR
Simione
Caio
C
Nasri
Cibele
C
Teixeira
Manoel Jacobsen
MJ
Siqueira
José Tadeu Tesseroli
JT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D010512:Periodontal Index