Weight Status of Patients with Orofacial Pain

Objectives: To determine relationships between orofacial pain (OFP) diagnoses and self reported pain/difficulty with biting, chewing and mouth opening and body weight.

Methods: A retrospective analysis using a convenience sample of 80 adult patients seen in the New Jersey Dental School OFP Clinic during an 18 month period who underwent nutrition screens was done. As part of routine patient care, weight was measured, and Visual Analog Scales (VAS) were used to assess perceived pain/difficulty with biting, chewing and mouth opening. Data entry and analysis were completed using SPSSv13; a priori alpha level set at p<0.05.

Results: Of the 80 patients seen, 91.3% were women (n=73. OFP diagnoses were grouped as musculoskeletal OFP (MP) (n=63, 78.8%) (myofascial and temporomandibular joint pain) and neuropathic pain(NP)(n=17,21.3%)(trigeminal neuralgia and burning mouth syndrome). Almost two-thirds of the NP patients were overweight/obese (64.7%,n=11) compared to those with MP (35.3%, n=26). There was a weak, significant correlation (point-biserial) between OFP type and weight change over the previous 1 year(r=0.252,p=0.026); MP patients (mean=+4.00,SD=9.58) were significantly more likely than NP patients (mean=-2.19, SD=10.34) to gain weight. Point-biserial correlations revealed significant moderate correlations between OFP type and VAS-scores for biting (r=0.419, p<0.0001) and mouth opening (r=0.466, p<0.0001). Patients with MP had significantly greater pain/difficulty with biting (p<0.0001, mean MP=5.01, mean NP=1.53) and mouth opening (p<0.0001, mean MP=4.94, mean NP=0.76) as shown by VAS-scores (independent samples t-tests) than those with NP.

Conclusions: These results suggest that adults with MP have greater pain/difficulty with biting and mouth opening, are less likely to be overweight/obese, but more likely to gain more weight over the previous year than those with NP. Further research is needed with a larger sample to explore relationships between OFP diagnoses, nutrition status, nutrient intake and degree of pain.