Orofacial Pain : The New Dental Specialty

All About Orofacial Pain

• Orofacial Pain as a recognized dental specialty
• Importance of understanding orofacial pain assessment, diagnosis, and treatment

Evaluation of Orofacial Pain Patients:

1. Medical and Dental History

• Gathering detailed information on medical and dental background

1. Chief Complaint and Pain History

• Factors to consider: pain quality, duration, affected side, initiating/exacerbating/relieving factors, associated symptoms

1. Physical Examination

• Vital signs, intraoral examination, head & neck examination, cranial nerve assessment

1. Radiological and Other Special Investigations

• Cranial nerve screening examination, laboratory blood examination, MRI, bone scan

Definition of Pain and Classification by Origin:

• Pain as an unpleasant sensation transmitted to the central nervous system
• Classification into three main categories: somatic pain, neuropathic pain, and psychogenic pain

Causes of Orofacial Pain:

I) Local Causes (Somatic)

• Diseases affecting teeth, periodontium, oral mucosa, jaws, antrum, salivary glands, TMJ, ears, eyes, sinuses, nasopharynx

II) Neurological Causes (Neuropathic)

• Trigeminal Neuralgia, Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia, Herpes Zoster, Post Herpetic Neuralgia, Geniculate Herpes, Bell's Palsy, Intracranial Tumors, Causalgia

III) Psychogenic Causes

• Atypical Odontalgia, Atypical Facial Pain, Burning Mouth Syndrome

1. IV) Vascular Causes

• Migraine, Periodic Migranous Neuralgia, Referred Pain

Neurologic Pain:

• Trigeminal Neuralgia: Characteristics, drug and procedural treatments
• Peri Trigeminal Neuralgia: Aching dental pain without abnormalities
• Vagoglossopharyngeal Neuralgia: Radiating pain and treatment options
• Herpes Zoster and Post Herpetic Neuralgia: Symptoms and treatments
• Geniculate Herpes (Ramsay Hunt Syndrome): Eruption and surgical options
• Bell's Palsy: Unilateral facial palsy and antiviral treatments
• Multiple Sclerosis and Causalgia: Treatment approaches

Pain of Vascular Origin:

• Migraine: Types, symptoms, and treatment options
• Periodic Migranous Neuralgia: Triggers and treatment methods
• Giant Cell Arteritis: Symptoms, ocular involvement, and treatment

Somatic Pain:

• Maxillary Antrum/Nasopharynx: Sinusitis, malignancy, and related pain
• Salivary Glands: Infection and duct obstruction
• Oral Mucosa: Zoster and geniculate herpes
• Jaw/Masticatory Muscles: TMJ disorders, including myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome, osteoarthritis, and more

Psychogenic Pain:

• Atypical Facial Pain: Symptoms, prevalence, and treatment options
• Atypical Odontalgia: Similarities to atypical facial pain
• Burning Mouth Syndrome: Symptoms, diagnostic tests, and treatment approaches

Conclusion:

• Orofacial pain as an evolving field within dentistry
• Importance of comprehensive evaluation and understanding of pain classification
• Diverse causes of orofacial pain and their respective treatments
• Continued advancements in research and specialized training for optimal patient care

Reference: https://www.slideshare.net/drsaleh80/orofacial-pain-73810897

Explore more with DentalReach

Read the DentalReach dental magazine for professional perspectives, browse clinical dental articles for practical learning, and follow dental news for updates across the profession. You can also read our dental magazine editions.

Continue learning through dental events and conferences, listen to dental podcasts featuring professional conversations, and exchange questions and experiences in our dental forums.

For your next career step, explore dental jobs and opportunities across dental practices and organizations.