This study examined somatosensory amplification using the Japanese version of the somatosensory amplification scale (SSAS) (Nakao, M., et al.: 2001) in patients with vague oral complaints.
The subjects consisted of 57 patients (15 males aged 66.8±10.8 years, 42 females aged 63.9±9.7 years) attending our clinic, of whom 24 had glossodynias, 20 oral paresthesias, 15 taste abnormalities, 14 saliva abnormalities and 7 indefinite oral pain (overlapping in some patients).
The SSAS scores in these patients were compared with those in 57 control individuals (15 males aged 67.3±12.0 years, 42 females aged 63.8±10.2 years) who visited our clinic for general dental treatment.
The results were as follows:(1) The SSAS scores in general were significantly higher in these patients with vague complaints than in the controls (p<0.001).(2) The SSAS scores were higher in these patients than in the male controls (p<0.01), female controls (p<0.001), controls less than 65 (p<0.01), and controls over 66 (p<0.001).(3) The SSAS scores for males were not significantly different from those for females, and there was no significant difference between those aged less and more than 66.(4) The SSAS scores of patients with multiple complaints were not significantly different from those of patients with a single complaint.(5) The SSAS scores were higher in patients with glossodynia (especially as a single complaint) than without glossodynia, though not significantly.
Our findings suggested that SSAS may be a clinically useful tool for dealing with patients with vague oral complaints.