ReviewOdontology2026
Orofacial pain and dementia: a brief narrative review of associations, putative mechanisms, and relevant clinical considerations.
Review in Odontology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Pooled it
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
This review examines the possible association between orofacial pain and dementia by synthesizing current findings from clinical, observational, and mechanistic studies. Although chronic pain has been increasingly recognized as a factor linked to cognitive decline, the specific role of orofacial pain, including conditions such as temporomandibular disorders, trigeminal neuralgia, burning mouth syndrome, and primary headaches, remains underexplored. Given the distinct neuroanatomy of the trigeminal system and its close connection to emotional and cognitive processing, orofacial pain may involve unique mechanisms relevant to neurodegeneration. Studies suggesting possible links between orofacial pain conditions and cognitive impairment were identified, highlighting mechanisms such as neuroinflammation, locus coeruleus dysfunction, and central sensitization. Modifiable cofactors, including poor oral health and sleep disturbances, which may influence both pain and dementia risk and are particularly relevant in dental and orofacial clinical practice, were also examined. Pain assessment and management strategies for individuals with dementia were reviewed as well, with emphasis on the need for validated tools and interdisciplinary care models that incorporate dental and orofacial pain specialists. Given the heterogeneous and limited nature of existing studies, this review does not make causal claims but instead conceptually maps the current landscape, identifies critical gaps in the literature, and outlines implications for research and practice. Dentists and orofacial pain providers may be uniquely positioned to recognize pain-related risk factors in cognitively vulnerable patients and implement preventive or therapeutic strategies. Future longitudinal studies and mechanistic investigations are needed to clarify the direction and clinical significance of the orofacial pain-dementia relationship.
Indexed as
Identifiers
40982102What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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 OpenQuestion graph.