Low Intensity laser therapy in patients with burning mouth syndrome: a randomized, placebo-controlled study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of low intensity laser therapy in patients with Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS). Thirty BMS subjects were randomized into two groups – Laser (LG) and Placebo (CG). Seven patients dropped out, leaving 13 patients in LG and 10 patients in CG. Each patient received 4 irradiations (laser or placebo) twice a week, for two consecutive weeks (blinded to the type of irradiation received). Infrared laser (AsGaAI) irradiations were applied to the affected mucosa in scanning mode, wavelength of 790 nm, output power of 20 mW and fluence of 6 J/cm². A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the therapeutic effect before and after each irradiation, and at all the control time periods: 7, 14, 30, 60 and 90 days after the last irradiation. One researcher delivered irradiation and another recorded the results. Both researchers were blinded, the first to the results, and the second to the type of radiation applied. The results were categorized according to the percentage of symptom level variation, and showed a statistically better response in LG in only two categories of the control checkpoints (p=0.02; Fisher’s Exact Test). According to the protocol used in this study, low intensity laser therapy is as beneficial to patients with BMS as placebo treatment, indicating a great emotional component of involvement in BMS symptomatology. Nevertheless, there were positive results in some statistical analyses, thus encouraging further research in BMS laser therapy with other irradiation parameters.

Burning Mouth Syndrome; Laser Therapy; Glossalgia

Introduction

Burning mouth syndrome is a distinct nosological entity characterized by a chronic idiopathic burning sensation that affects the oral cavity mucosa, without presenting any local clinical signs or detectable laboratory alterations¹. It usually affects individuals between the 4^th and 5^th decade of life, mainly women, seven times more often than men². The prevalence is 0.7% to 4.6% in the general population³,⁴. Burning mouth symptom is commonly followed by dysgeusia (persistent metallic or bitter taste in the mouth) and xerostomia⁵,⁶. The most commonly affected sites are the tongue, palate, mucosa of the upper lip and buccal mucosa⁷.

The unknown etiology of BMS has led to the investigation of a series of possible local and systemic causal factors, such as hyposalivation, oral candidiasis, anemia, nutritional deficiencies, hyperglycemia and hormonal disturbances associated with menopause⁷. Variations in the psychological profile of these patients have also deserved attention. Anxiety, depression and cancerophobia are quite evident psychological behaviors in patients with BMS⁸, although no cause-and-effect relationship between psychological disturbance and BMS manifestation has been established⁹,¹⁰. A possible etiologic relationship of BMS with the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system has also been studied. Investigations showing alterations in the eyeblink reflex and abnormalities in quantitative sensory testing and electrophysiological tests have suggested a possible neuropathy in peripheral innervation as being the cause of BMS¹¹. Jääskeläinen¹², classifies BMS patients into three subgroups, according to different neurogenic factors. These subgroups are clinically indistinguishable and require neurophysiologic, psychophysical, neuropathological and functional imaging studies to be identified. The first subgroup (50–65%) would present peripheral, smalldiameter fiber neuropathy of oral mucosa; the second (20–25%), subclinical trigeminal system pathology; and the third (20-40%) would be attributed to a central pain related to the hypofunction of dopaminergic neurons.

Biopsy of tissues affected by the burning sensation showed a reduction in the density of epithelial and sub-papillary nerve fibers, suggestive of axonal degeneration and sensory neuropathy in the lower branches of the trigeminal nerve¹³. Hypothetically, dysfunction of the chorda tympani nerve could cause lingual nerve hyperfunction, and, consequently, a burning sensation¹⁴. In the field of molecular biology, calcitonin gene-related peptide levels (CGRP) in the saliva of patients with BMS have been found to be lower than those of control groups¹⁵. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) modulates nociceptive trigeminovascular transmission.

Present treatment proposals are still empirical and mostly represented by therapies prescribed to control neuropathic pain⁸. Medications such as tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, antiepileptic and gabapentin are directed primarily at controlling the symptoms and not at curing the disease¹. Capsaicin seems to produce favorable results in the treatment of BMS; however, there are few clinical trials to provide adequate support for this therapeutic agent as a first line of medication to treat BMS patients¹⁶. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an important antioxidant that prevents oxidative damage to the nervous system, but, in a randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial in patients with BMS, there was no statistically significant difference between ALA and placebo groups¹⁷.

A case series of BMS patients (8 patients and 21 affected sites) showed 65% improvement in symptoms after irradiation sessions with low intensity laser therapy¹⁸.

The aim of this research was to assess the effect of low intensity laser therapy in patients with burning mouth syndrome, according to a randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Methodology

Ethical issues

This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Sao Paulo University School of Dentistry (FR-224649; 177/08), and developed according to the ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects, stated by the Declaration of Helsinki.

Patients

Patients affected by burning mouth syndrome were selected at the Stomatology Clinic of the Sao Paulo University School of Dentistry. The participants of this study met the diagnostic criteria for BMS, and agreed to the terms of the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

The following exclusion criteria were adopted in this study: clinical alterations in the oral mucosa potentially associated with the burning symptom, hyposalivation, diabetes, B hypovitaminosis and anemia. Bearing in mind the laser radiation, patients with history of malignant or benign head and neck neoplasia, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women were not considered eligible for this study.

Randomization

The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 – LASER (LG) and Group 2 – CONTROL (CG). Allocation between the two groups was randomized by a computer program (20), and the allocation sequence was concealed in serially numbered envelopes (prepared by an independent researcher), which were revealed to the main researcher at the time of irradiation delivery (laser or placebo). All patients, irrespective of the allocation group, fulfilled the same attendance protocol.

Treatment and blinding strategy

The main researcher was responsible for delivering the irradiation doses. The type of irradiation to be given was determined at the time of delivery, according to the allocation strategy.

Patients were blinded to the nature of irradiation received. Results were assessed by an auxiliary researcher, using a visual analogue scale and a global perception chart. The auxiliary kept the main researcher blind to this information, whereas the researcher responsible for collecting the results was blinded to the type of irradiation delivered to the patients.

Material

The appliance used was a low intensity infrared diode laser: AsGaAl, model QTUM00A/QUANTUM (Ecco Fibras Opticas e Dispositivos LTDA), according to the specifications shown in Chart 1.

Chart 1
Characteristics of the laser radiation applied.

1. Equipment	Low intensity laser – QTUM00A/QUANTUM (Ecco Fibras Ópticas e Dispositivos LTDA)
2. Wavelength
3. Fluency	6 J/cm2
4. Power	120 mW or 0.12 W
5. Beam area	0.03 cm2
6. Power density, radiation or intensity	4 W/cm2
7. Energy per point	6 J
8. Application time per point	50 s
9. Total number of points	Variable according to irradiated area
10. Distance between points	1 cm2
11. Total time	Variable according to irradiated area
12. Frequency	Continuous mode

Method

Participants in this study were submitted to a complete clinical exam, consisting of anamnesis, physical exam, non-stimulated sialometry and hematological tests (complete blood count, fasting glucose, serum ferritin level, vitamin B12 and folic acid investigation), in order to establish a sound diagnosis for BMS and rule out other conditions that could be associated with the burning mouth sensation (diabetes, anemia, hypovitaminosis). The patients were instructed not to use any other type of treatment for burning mouth symptomatology during the study.

The non-stimulated salivary flow was assessed by means of a 15-minute collection time in the morning, about two hours after breakfast. A volume below 0.1ml/min was characterized as hyposalivation, thus excluding the individual from the study.

Laser or placebo irradiation was delivered in scanning mode with the laser point in contact with the mucosa. The energy released was 6J/cm², and irradiation was applied on the entire area affected by the burning sensation. The procedures adopted in the placebo group were identical, but no laser energy was delivered. Irradiation time was determined by the extension of the affected area, according to the following equation:

Where t = time (s), D = energy density (J/cm²), A = area and P = power (W).

The region affected by the burning sensation was delimited with a red dermographic pencil, according to the symptomatology informed by the patient. The demarcated area was transferred to graph tracing paper to allow determination of the area to be irradiated in cm². Patients underwent four sessions of irradiation, two per week, with a 3-day interval between each session. Placebo irradiation was delivered with the timer beep kept active and the laser source, inactive, so that the patient heard the “beep” at regular intervals without receiving laser irradiation, for the period determined by the same equation used for the laser group. At the end of the study, the patients who showed no improvement were referred to another treatment in progress at our institution.

Recording the results

A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the intensity of burning sensation. VAS was applied before and 15 minutes after each irradiation, and at all established control time intervals: 7, 14, 30, 60 and 90 days after the last irradiation.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was conducted by a qualified statistician blinded to the patient groups. The data sent for analysis were identified only as belonging to Group A or Group B of patients.

Results

Forty-three patients eligible for this study, who complained of burning mouth, were examined at the Oral Diagnosis Clinic of our institution in the last two years. Thirteen patients were excluded due to the exclusion criteria used in this study (4 due to hypertension, 4 due to candidiasis, 3 due to hypovitaminosis, and 2 due to diabetes). Thirty patients were randomized between the two experimental groups: LG and CG. During the course of treatment, seven patients dropped out: two patients in the laser group and five in the placebo group (Figure 1).

Figure 1
Consort flow diagram

Twenty-three individuals completed the research protocol: two men and twenty-one women, with a mean age of 59.7 years (29–83). Mean duration of symptomatology was 31.7 months (6–192). The triad of burning mouth syndrome symptoms, characterized by xerostomia, dysgeusia and burning sensation, was common among the patients. The sites affected by BMS identified in the sample were as follows: tongue, lower lip, upper lip, buccal mucosa, mandibular ridge, palate and mandibular gingiva, involving 24 LG sites and 17 CG sites (Table 1).

Table 1
Patients’ clinical profile.

Variable	Laser group	Control group	Total
Men	0	2	2
Women	13	8	21
Mean age (range)	57.3 (29–83)	62.7 (53–81)	59.7 (29–83)
Mean duration of BMS symptoms (months)	25.5 (6–192)	39.6 (6–180)	31.7 (6–192)
Xerostomia complaint (n)	6	1	7
Dysgeusia complaint (n)	1	3	4
Dysgeusia and xerostomia complaint	3	4	7
Previous treatment for BMS (n)	9	5	14
Patients with 1 affected site (n)	5	6	11
Patients with 2 affected sites (n)	5	1	6
Patients with 3 or more affected sites (n)	3	3	6

VAS figures were transformed into percentages of symptoms, in order to enable statistical tests (Fisher’s Exact Test) without involving negative values. Therefore, the initial VAS figure was defined as 100% of symptomatology and the later assessments were calculated accordingly, showing figures towards zero when symptomatology improved, and above 100 when condition worsened during the course of the study. Patients were categorized according to their percentage of symptoms at the end of the last control period, as follows: NB (no burning sensation) - patients who presented 0% symptomatology; E (excellent) - patients with 1% to 25% symptomatology, G (good) - 26% to 50%, R (regular) - 51% to 75%, U (unchanged) – 76% to 100%, and W (worsened) - values above 100% (Charts 2 and 3).

Chart 2
VAS values after each irradiation session and in the five control checkpoints in Laser Group expressed according to the categories of outcome.

GL	P1	P2	P3	P4	P5	P6	P7	P8	P9	P10	P11	P12	P13
I1	1	5	3	5	3	4	2	5	2	5	4	2	2
I2	0	5	1	2	0	5	3	5	2	5	2	1	0
I3	0	3	0	1	5	5	1	0	1	4	3	1	0
I4	1	3	1	2	3	5	1	0	3	5	3	0	1
C1	0	4	1	1	5	5	1	5	0	5	3	0	1
C2	0	4	0	1	2	5	1	0	0	5	3	1	2
C3	0	5	1	1	5	5	1	0	0	4	3	1	2
C4	0	5	1	1	5	4	1	0	0	4	1	0	4
C5	0	5	0	1	5	5	1	0	0	5	5	0	0

• P: patient; I1-4: irradiations sessions 1 to 4; C1-5: control checkpoints 1 to 5; 0: no burning sensation (0%); 1: excellent (1–25%); 2: good (26–50%); 3: regular (51–75%); 4: unchanged (76–100%); 5: worsened (> 100%)

Chart 3
VAS values after each irradiation session and in the five control checkpoints in Control Group expressed according to the categories of outcome.

GP	P1	P2	P3	P4	P5	P6	P7	P8	P9	P10
I1	1	4	5	4	2	2	4	2	2	2
I2	1	3	5	4	0	1	4	1	3	3
I3	1	2	4	3	0	1	4	3	4	3
I4	0	3	5	0	0	0	4	4	2	3
C1	1	2	5	2	0	1	4	4	2	2
C2	1	2	5	0	0	0	4	3	1	1
C3	1	1	5	0	0	0	4	5	1	1
C4	1	3	5	3	0	0	4	5	0	1
C5	1	3	4	0	0	1	4	5	0	0

• P: patient; I1-4: irradiations sessions 1 to 4; C1-5: control checkpoints 1 to 5; 0: no burning sensation (0%); 1: excellent (1–25%); 2: good (26–50%); 3: regular (51–75%); 4: unchanged (76–100%); 5: worsened (>100%).

Six of the 13 patients from the laser group reported complete remission of symptoms in all sites affected by the burning sensation at the last control checkpoint, 90 days after the last irradiation. Seven patients presented complete remission of symptoms in some of their affected sites at that same checkpoint. According to the sites affected in the laser group, 15 out of 24 were classified as no burning at the last control checkpoint (Figure 2).

Figure 2
Mean VAS values of both groups (LG, CG) in all irradiation sessions and control checkpoints.

Four of the 10 patients that composed the placebo group reported total remission of symptoms in all affected sites at the end of the control period. Four of the 16 affected sites presented complete remission of symptoms at the 90-day control checkpoint, after the last irradiation (Figure 2).

When comparing the results between the laser and the placebo groups by response categories, the categories that showed statistical significance were E in the last irradiation (0.002) and NB at the control checkpoint of 90 days (0.02), in favor of the laser group.

Discussion

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is thought to be a neuropathic disease¹²,¹³; nevertheless, its exact causes and proper treatment are still unknown.

Therapy for BMS is still unsatisfactory, and there are few evidence-based findings. On the other hand, there are patients in need of relief from BMS symptoms. The historical progression of this condition has traversed different periods in regard to patient management, according to different etiological theories that have been suggested. This is how it has always been, ever since the existence of the disease was refuted and BMS symptomatology was attributed to psychiatric disorders, up until today, when the main theory points to a possible neurogenic etiology.

The present research did not intend to clarify the basis of BMS etiopathology; nonetheless, the theory of the neuropathic origin of BMS, and the recognized properties of laser therapy were taken into account in designing the treatment protocol tested in this study. There is evidence of peripheral nerve involvement, such as the chorda tympani nerve¹⁴, and reduction in the density of lingual innervations in BMS patients¹³.

The choice of laser therapy to treat BMS patients was based on the regenerative properties of low intensity laser on nerve fibers¹⁹,²⁰,²¹,²². A previous pilot study showed positive results and encouraged the development of this controlled clinical trial¹⁸.

Chow et al.²³, showed that parameters of laser irradiation used in the present study reduced acute and chronic pain by changing mitochondrial signaling and reducing ATP availability. According to these authors, conduction block and modulation of neurotransmitters of Aδ and C nociceptors is temporary when a laser is applied in a single session, but these effects last longer when laser irradiation is performed in several sessions.

A reduced number of sessions were chosen in order to perceive the potentiality of the technique. It is known that low intensity laser therapy applied to superficial inflammatory processes (such as mucositis caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy) in a single session produces immediate analgesic effects²⁴. There is a theory suggesting that neurogenic inflammation is the cause of BMS⁴. In fact, if there were a more complex alteration in the neurotransmission mechanisms in the genesis of BMS symptoms, a larger number of irradiation sessions could probably generate a more effective result.

Our sample was composed mostly of women (91.3%) with a mean age of 59.7 years. These data are in agreement with most of the findings in literature¹,², although the age group represented by this sample was composed mainly of individuals in their 7^th decade of life. This fact may be attributed to the small size of the patient group. Most of the sample reported symptoms of dysgeusia and/or xerostomia associated with burning mouth (74%) and spontaneous onset of BMS, similar to the reports found in the literature⁵,⁶. The tongue was the most affected site, followed by the lips and palate, also in agreement with data in the literature⁷.

At present only anxiolytic, anticonvulsant and antidepressant drugs show some effectiveness in treating BMS²⁵,²⁶,²⁷. Since these drugs are not completely effective against BMS, and also offer the risk of undesired side effects, the use of low intensity laser is an interesting therapeutic alternative, given its easy application, comfort, and absence of undesirable side effects. The disadvantages of the method include the need for several visits to the clinic and an appropriate environment for compliance with biosafety regulations.

According to the protocol used in this study, low intensity laser therapy showed a statistically significant beneficial effect over placebo in only two checkpoint controls (after the fourth irradiation session and at the 90-day control point), leading to the conclusion that only four irradiation sessions with the laser parameters used offer no significant difference between laser and placebo in treating BMS symptoms. Nevertheless, both treatments (laser and placebo) showed a fairly interesting benefit: 46% of no burning sensation after 90 days in the laser group and 40% in the placebo group, thus suggesting that emotional aspects greatly influence BMS manifestation.

Santos et al.²⁸, treated 10 BMS patients with a 660 nm, 40 mW power, 20 J/cm² diode laser, one session per week for 10 weeks, and obtained a significant improvement in the symptoms of all patients. Yang and Huang²⁹, obtained similar results treating 17 BMS patients with an 800nm diode laser once a week for a period ranging from one to seven weeks. The weakness of these two trials is the lack of a control group. The results achieved were very similar to those obtained in the present study, despite the differences in the number of irradiation sessions and in the laser parameters utilized.

Arbabi-Kalati et al.³⁰, evaluated 20 BMS patients divided in two groups (laser and placebo). Patients of the laser group were irradiated (iodine-gallium-arsenide laser, 630 nm, 30 mW, 1J/cm²) twice a week for 2 weeks, in 10 areas of the oral mucosa. The placebo group received the same treatment with silent/off laser therapy. Results were collected at the end of the two-week treatment. The laser group presented a statistically better result at VAS measurement. On the other hand, Pezelj-Ribarić et al.³¹, treated 40 BMS patients equally divided into two groups (laser and placebo). Patients of the laser group were treated 5 days a week for 4 consecutive weeks, with a 685nm gallium-aluminum-arsenic diode laser (30 mW, 3 J/cm²). The authors found no difference in symptomatology between the two groups. The treatment protocols of these two studies used wavelengths smaller than ours, as well as different laser parameters.

Arduino et al.³², treated 33 BMS patients randomly allocated to two groups: one received two irradiation laser sessions (980 nm AsGaAl diode laser, 300 mW, 10 J/cm²) per week for 5 weeks, and the other received topical clonazepam therapy (1 mg tablet) orally, without swallowing for 3 minutes, three times a day for 21 days. The laser group experienced a major decrease in pain sensation, compared with the clonazepam group, up to 12 weeks after the end of the protocol, but this difference was statistically different only at the 8-week checkpoint. The authors concluded that LLLT is capable of reducing the symptoms of patients with BMS.

Vucicevic Boras et al.³³, revised the files of 187 patients with BMS submitted to diverse kinds of therapy: salivary substitutes, chlorhexidine mouthwash, vitamin B replacement therapy and low level laser therapy. One hundred and seventeen patients (62.6%) reported their condition as unchanged, whereas 70 (37.4%) patients reported improvement compared with the baseline. None of the patients reported complete resolution of the symptoms.

Conclusion

The laser protocol used to treat this group of BMS patients produced benefits similar to those of the placebo treatment applied. Considering the beneficial effect obtained, versus the extremely different results reported in the literature, further research in BMS laser therapy is still valid to improve the knowledge in this field, and to help clarify the mechanisms involved in BMS etiopathogenesis.

Acknowledgements

This investigation was supported by the State of Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP; grant 08/56339-9).

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  2016

History

• Received
  18 Nov 2015
• Reviewed
  07 June 2016
• Accepted
  24 July 2016