Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on orofacial pain conditions

Abstract

Numerous studies have confirmed the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for chronic pain, and it is generally regarded as an appropriate intervention. However, it may not be effective for some pain sites, and the duration of the effect may be limited. In addition, some studies of CBT lacked a comparison group. This review summarizes evidence for the effectiveness of CBT for orofacial pain and assists in the development of guidelines for orofacial pain management. A literature search in PubMed was performed for studies published from April 1990 through March 2020. The search keywords were “burning mouth syndrome,” “temporomandibular disorders,” “myofascial pain syndrome,”“chronic orofacial pain conditions,” “cognitive behavioral therapy,” and “non-pharmacological therapy.” The results indicate that CBT alone or in combination with other treatments, such as intraoral appliance, stress management, or biofeedback, is effective for the vast majority of orofacial pain cases. Therefore, dentists should consider using CBT to manage orofacial pain in their patients.