Quantitative sensory testing in oral disorders: an update on methods and clinical implications

Oral mucosal diseases, such as burning mouth syndrome, oral lichen planus, oral mucositis, and recurrent aphthous stomatitis, frequently present with altered sensory functions, including pain, dysesthesia, and changes in thermal and mechanical sensitivity. Accurate assessment of these sensory changes is essential for understanding disease mechanisms, evaluating treatment efficacy, and improving patient outcomes. This review summarizes current evidence on sensory measurement methods used in clinical trials involving patients with oral mucosal diseases, with a particular focus on quantitative sensory testing techniques.