LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Mr. Editor,

We acknowledge the published paper: "Guidelines for somatosensory evaluation of temporomandibular dysfunction and orofacial pain patients"¹ due to its importance as quantitative sensory tests (QST) is a tool in the evaluation of the patient; however it is important to consider it as additional data to the clinical exam and anamnesis. There are several articles about this methodology in the literature and the use of QST is mainly in research, and there are systematized protocols for the orofacial region^2-5.

The importance in the neuropathic pain of this body area is crucial. Besides the information in this paper, there are other types of QST in the market, such as Somedic equipments, and the current literature in the orofacial evaluation indicates that somatosensory aspects but also gustative and olfactory functions can be affected by chronic pain^6-13.

It is also an important tool to follow the progress of sensory loss after oral surgeries, including complications due to dental implants^14,15.

Thus, standardized protocols and guidelines for QST at the orofacial region can be used associated to the exam of orofacial pain patients.

Sincerely,

Silvia Regina Dowgan Tesseroli de Siqueira

José Tadeu Tesseroli de Siqueira

REFERENCES

• 1. Sydney PBH, Conti PCR. Diretrizes para avaliação somatossensorial em pacientes portadores de disfunção temporomandibular e dor orofacial. Rev Dor 2011;12(4):349-53.
• 2. Matos R, Wang K, Jensen JD, et al. Quantitative sensory testing in the trigeminal region: site and gender differences. J Orofac Pain 2011;25(2):161-9.
• 3. Pigg M, Baad-Hansen L, Svensson P, et al. Reliability of intraoral quantitative sensory testing (QST). Pain 2010;148(2):220-6.
• 4. List T, Leijon G, Svensson P. Somatosensory abnormalities in atypical odontalgia: A case-control study. Pain 2008;15;139(2):333-41.
• 5. Siqueira SR, Okada M, Lino AM, et al. Proposal for a standardized protocol for the systematic orofacial examination of patients with Hereditary Sensory Radicular Neuropathy. Int Endod J 2006;39(11):905-15.
• 6. Ayesh EE, Jensen TS, Svensson P. Effects of intra-articular ketamine on pain and somatosensory function in temporomandibular joint arthralgia patients. Pain. 2008;137(2):286-94.
• 7. Baad-Hansen L, Arima T, Arendt-Nielsen L, et al. Quantitative sensory tests before and 1(1/2) years after orthognathic surgery: a cross-sectional study. J Oral Rehabil 2010;37(5):313-21.
• 8. Siviero M, Teixeira MJ, Siqueira JT, et al. Central mechanisms in burning mouth syndrome involving the olfactory nerve: a preliminary study. Clinics 2011;66(3):509-12.
• 9. Siviero M, Alvarez FK, Okada M, et al. Facial sensibility of patients with trigeminal neuralgias. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2011;113(4):268-71.
• 10. Arap A, Siqueira SR, Silva CB, et al. Trigeminal pain and quantitative sensory testing in painful peripheral diabetic neuropathy. Arch Oral Biol 2010;55(7):486-93.
• 11. Siviero M, Teixeira MJ, de Siqueira JT, et al. Somesthetic, gustatory, olfactory function and salivary flow in patients with neuropathic trigeminal pain. Oral Dis 2010;16(5):482-7.
• 12. Alvarez FK, de Siqueira SR, Okada M, et al. Evaluation of the sensation in patients with trigeminal post-herpetic neuralgia. J Oral Pathol Med 2007;36(6):347-50.
• 13. Siqueira SR, Nóbrega JC, Teixeira MJ, et al. Olfactory threshold increase in trigeminal neuralgia after balloon compression. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2006;108(8):721-5.
• 14. Siqueira JTT, Siqueira SRDT. Persistent pain, sensory abnormalities, nervous injury and loss of implant after dental implant surgery: clinical approach. Rev Dor 2011;12(2):172-81.
• 15. Siqueira JTT, Velasco Dias P, et al. Nerve injury, sensorial abnormalities, and persistent pain after dental implant procedures: should I remove the implant? ImplantNews 2011;8(5):619-26.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  29 Mar 2012
• Date of issue
  Mar 2012