The Use of a Removable Appliance to Relieve Symptoms of Burning Lower Lip in a Dentate Patient

The treatment of burning mouth Syndrome, in all its forms, is a challenge to the management of some older patients. The multi-factorial aetiology of this problem requires careful diagnosis and treatment planning to address the major aetiological factors for a given individual. This case report describes the treatment given to an elderly dentate female patient, whose main symptom was intense burning of her lower lip. The patient was aware of tooth clenching and various splints had been provided in the past, with limited improvement in symptoms. A simple removable appliance to prevent trapping of the soft tissues of the lower lip was provided, which produced a rapid and sustained reduction in symptoms. Clinical relevance: Solutions to some common, yet distressing, problems may well be appropriate for use in the Primary Dental Care setting. This solution to the problem of burning lower lip, may be useful for other patients with similar symptoms. It may be adapted for different clinical situations and is relatively non-invasive and reversible. KEY WORDS: Burning lip; Dentate; Removable appliance