Treatment of smarting symptoms in the oral mucosa by appliance of lingual acrylic splints.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relieving effect on smarting symptoms in the oral mucosa by the use of lingual acrylic splints. Recruited for the study were 53 persons, 48 women and 5 men, with smarting symptoms in the oral mucosa, not associated with general disease, and with signs of erythema, most often on the apex of the tongue, and/or crenated tongue. Symptoms were registered from the tongue in 49 cases, the palate in 28 cases and the lips in 15 cases. A lingual acrylic splint was applied in the lower jaw behind the front teeth, not covering the occlusal surfaces and it was kept in the mouth day and night. At an average the splint was used in 8 months. A group of 10 women was recruited for comparison. These women were just instructed to avoid tongue pressing for at least a two month period. All patients were asked whether the treatment affected the symptoms and they registered their opinion on a 100 mm VAS line with end effect points "not helped at all/deteriorated" and "now completely without symptoms". On the question whether the treatment had affected the symptoms, the average result was 55 mm and median value 64 mm. The treatment results were somewhat better among those with moderate initial symptoms compared to those with severe symptoms. Interestingly, in the group for comparison, symptom VAS values improved significantly from 60 to 41 mm (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Treatment of smarting symptoms in the oral mucosa may to a great extent be relieved by the application of an acrylic lingual splint. However, before using this splint method, an effort should be made to make the patient actively avoid tongue pressure.