Alvarenga-Brant R, Costa F O, Mattos-Pereira G et al. Treatments for Burning Mouth Syndrome: A Network Meta-analysis. J Dent Res 2022; DOI: 10.1177/00220345221130025. Online ahead of print.

Among all tested treatments, only clonazepam is likely to reduce the pain of BMS when compared with placebo.

This systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomised controlled trials evaluated the effectiveness of treatments for pain relief of burning mouth syndrome (BMS). The primary outcome was pain relief or burning sensation, and the secondary outcomes were side effects, quality of life, salivary flow, and TNF-α and interleukin 6 levels. Forty-four trials were included. The anxiolytic (clonazepam) probably reduces the pain of BMS when compared with placebo. Photobiomodulation therapy and pregabalin achieved the minimal important difference of a beneficial effect with low or very low certainty.