The influence of orofacial pain on sleep pattern: A review of theory, animal models and future directions

Sleep is necessary for the maintenance of normal physiological function and vital processes. Pain exerts a broad range of effects upon sleep patterns. Nevertheless, these two conditions are poorly understood, in part due to the limited choice of experimental models available to study these conditions. Among pain conditions, temporomandibular joint pain and orofacial pain are important clinical entities involving the occurrence of inflammatory processes and neuropathic pain. In this article, we provide a concise review of the past and current literature on the neglected influence of the modulatory role of orofacial pain on sleep, and we highlight the experimental studies on different pain and orofacial pain processes.