Oral surgery, oral medicine, and oral pathology
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Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. · Feb 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialTopical application of capsaicin for treatment of oral neuropathic pain and trigeminal neuralgia.
Neuropathic pain may be a major cause of pain in the head and neck. Trigeminal neuralgia may appear as intraoral pain. This article reviews a series of 24 consecutive cases of oral pain treated with topical capsaicin. ⋯ Trigeminal neuralgia with an intraoral trigger was less responsive to topical therapy than neuropathic pain. Further study is needed to clarify the efficacy of topical capsaicin in neuropathic and neuralgic pain and the effect of differing dosages and frequency of application. On the basis of the findings in this open-label clinical trial, controlled clinical study of capsaicin in neuropathic oral pain states appears warranted.