A critical component of the dental hygiene process of care is assessment of the 
oral and general health conditions of clients. Some clients present with burning 
and painful sensations in the oral cavity in the absence of any noticeable 
disease. This condition has been referred to as burning mouth syndrome (BMS), an 
often complicated condition. Various local, systemic, and psychological factors 
have been linked with BMS, but its etiology is not fully understood. Yet as many 
as one million people are affected by it in the United States, and it is an 
increasingly-common problem in the aging population. Middle-aged women, mostly 
postmenopausal, are diagnosed with symptoms seven times more frequently than 
men. Careful diagnosis and treatment are necessary to alleviate the symptoms of 
this condition. Referral to a physician is warranted in some cases. The purposes 
of this course are to review the etiologic factors and clinical implications 
related to this condition and to discuss appropriate dental hygiene 
interventions. Collaboration among the client, dental hygienist, dentist, and 
physician provides for interdisciplinary actions that can lead to palliation of 
symptoms and evaluation of the possible underlying factors contributing to the 
condition.