Evidence mapPaperPMID 41607327Full record

Observational studyJournal of oral & facial pain and headache2026

Pharmacological management in orofacial pain: a retrospective, observational study of treatment decisions and contributing factors.

Diya Mundackal, Aleksandra Zumbrunn Wojczyńska, Mutlu Özcan, Nenad Lukic, Vera Colombo

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Journal of oral & facial pain and headache, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Diya Mundackal *Clinic of Masticatory Disorders and Dental Biomaterials, Center for Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland.
Aleksandra Zumbrunn Wojczyńska *Clinic of Masticatory Disorders and Dental Biomaterials, Center for Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland.
Mutlu ÖzcanClinic of Masticatory Disorders and Dental Biomaterials, Center for Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland.
Nenad LukicClinic of Masticatory Disorders and Dental Biomaterials, Center for Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland.
Vera ColomboClinic of Masticatory Disorders and Dental Biomaterials, Center for Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe study evaluated how often pharmacological therapies were started, modified, or discontinued after a consultation in a sample of orofacial pain patients and identified potential factors associated with treatment choices in the pharmacological management of orofacial pain.

methodsFor this study, patient files (N = 208) originating from the daily routine of the Orofacial Pain Unit, University of Zurich (January 2017-December 2022) were analysed. Demographics, lifestyle, pain characteristics, diagnosis, and pharmacological therapy pre- and post- consultation with an orofacial pain specialist were recorded. Changes in pharmacotherapy, pain perception, and therapeutic success were assessed. Descriptive statistics, paired McNemar and chi-square tests were conducted.

resultsA total of 208 patients were included in the study (64.4% females, mean age 45.9 years). The mean pain intensity was 6.93 for maximum pain and 4.62 for average pain. The most common pain locations were the face (64.3%), followed by the head (33.3%). At the initial consultation, 51.4% of patients were already using pharmacological therapy. The most common pre-diagnosis medications were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (44.9%), antidepressants with pain-modulating properties (9.3%), and magnesium (7.5%). After consultation, myofascial orofacial pain was the most common diagnosis (50.5%). The prescription of medications increased significantly to 74.5% (

conclusionsAge, psychological distress, and pain location significantly influenced pharmacological management of orofacial pain. Pharmacological therapy differed between before and after consultation at the Orofacial Pain Unit. Accurate diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach to treatment can significantly improve therapy success.

Indexed as

AnalgesicsFacial PainAdultAgedAnti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementRetrospective StudiesAnalgesicsAnti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalClinical studyOrofacial painOvertreatmentPharmacological therapyPharmacotherapyTemporomandibular disordersUndertreatment

Identifiers

PMID41607327
PMCPMC12853157

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.