Awareness and Knowledge of Burning Mouth Syndrome among Dental Practitioners and Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Abstract

Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is a chronic oral pain disorder characterized by a burning sensation of the oral mucosa without visible lesions or underlying pathology. It affects predominantly peri- and post-menopausal women and has a multifactorial etiology involving neuropathic, hormonal, and psychological components. The present review and survey-based study aimed to assess awareness, clinical understanding, and management approaches related to BMS among dentalpractitioners and dental studends. A structured 15-item questionnaire was administered to 100 participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. The results revealed a high level of awareness (77%) and understanding of symptomatology (76%), though knowledge gaps were noted regarding secondary causes and management strategies. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences across response patterns (p < 0.001). The findings highlight the need for enhanced educational emphasis on the diagnosis and multidisciplinary management of BMS.

Introduction

Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is a chronic orofacial pain disorder characterized by a burning sensation of the oral mucosa without visible lesions, predominantly affecting middle-aged and postmenopausal women. Symptoms often include burning, stinging, dry mouth, and altered taste, typically worsening throughout the day, while eating or drinking may provide temporary relief. BMS has a neuropathic origin, with both primary (idiopathic) and secondary forms linked to systemic, nutritional, or medication-related causes. Psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances can exacerbate symptoms, highlighting a biopsychosocial model of disease.

Management requires a multidisciplinary approach, including patient education, pharmacologic therapies (e.g., antidepressants, clonazepam, pilocarpine), and long-term follow-up, as complete remission is rare. Despite advances in understanding BMS, awareness among clinicians remains inconsistent, prompting the need for educational interventions.

A cross-sectional online survey of 100 dental students and practitioners revealed high awareness (77%) and good understanding of BMS symptoms, neuropathic etiology, systemic associations, and evidence-based management. Most participants correctly identified hallmark symptoms, common sites, and appropriate pharmacologic treatments, though minor gaps in differential diagnosis and recognition of atypical presentations were noted. The study underscores the importance of continued education and clinical training to improve BMS recognition and care.

Conclusion

The present survey demonstrates that dental practitioners and students possess a commendable level of awareness and understanding of Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS), particularly regarding its neuropathic etiology, clinical features, and evidence-based management. Most respondents accurately recognized hallmark symptoms such as burning sensations, dry mouth, and altered taste, and correctly associated the condition with idiopathic neuropathy and bilateral presentation. Their responses reflected strong alignment with international research on BMS pathophysiology, symptom recognition, and therapeutic strategies.Despite this encouraging awareness, the persistence of partial misconceptions—especially concerning secondary etiologies and systemic associations— highlights the ongoing need for enhanced educational integration of oral medicine topics into dental curricula and clinical training programs. Continuous professional development and exposure to interdisciplinary management approaches are essential to ensure early diagnosis, accurate differentiation from other oral pain disorders, and improved patient outcomes.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. Gayathri P. S., Dr. Priya Ramani , Aashifa S., Adithya S N, Abitha R., Dr. Sree Devi. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.