J Orofac Pain
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To determine the degree to which the generic pain intensity rating (i.e., overall and without reference to a particular body site) of facial pain patients being seen in a specialty setting for facial pain is influenced by painful comorbidity in body parts other than the face. ⋯ The results of this study suggest that the maximum visual analog scale pain intensity score, observed in any body location, is a better reflection of the generic pain intensity rating than the corresponding score of the face. To avoid over-rating or underrating of facial pain intensity, patients should be instructed to provide site-specific pain intensity scores if painful comorbidity is present.
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To investigate and compare absolute pressure-pain threshold (PPT) levels and ratios between craniofacial test and reference sites during consecutive PPT recordings, as well as over a 6-month period, in healthy individuals. This study also investigated PPT differences between genders and the clinical usefulness of different reference sites in the craniofacial region. ⋯ This study shows that absolute PPT levels in healthy individuals change significantly during consecutive PPT recordings, as well as over a 6-month period; this limits the usefulness of such measurements. This study also shows that the use of relative PPTs with the FRO as a reference site is useful, both for comparison between groups and for longitudinal studies.
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Comparative Study
Somatic, affective, and pain characteristics of chronic TMD patients with sexual versus physical abuse histories.
This study examined whether temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients with sexual versus physical abuse histories differ in their pain report, psychological distress, and somatic symptoms. ⋯ Based on the differences found, it can be argued that assessment of physical abuse histories by appropriately trained clinicians should be a routine part of any multimodal assessment of female chronic TMD patients.
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To estimate the intra- and interrater reliability of current perception threshold (CPT) evaluation, especially within the infraorbital nerve territory (ION) and inferior alveolar nerve territory (IAN) of the orofacial region, and to characterize the CPTs of ION and IAN in the normal population. ⋯ Evaluation of CPTs within ION and IAN revealed good intra- and interrater reliability. The study also provided normative data of CPTs of ION, IAN, and the between-site and within-site ratios of CPTs of ION and IAN. This should prove useful in the diagnosis of orofacial neuropathy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Topical application of capsaicin for the treatment of localized pain in the temporomandibular joint area.
To determine the effectiveness of topical capsaicin cream application on localized pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area. ⋯ The factor of time had a major effect in the non-specific improvement of the parameters assessed. The placebo effect played an important role in the treatment of patients with pain in the TMJ area.