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Atypical odontalgia. Update and comment on long-term follow-up.
1Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, and Oral Pathology
|April 1, 1992
Summary
Atypical odontalgia, a dental pain condition, primarily affects women aged 23-60. While antidepressant medication remains the treatment of choice, long-term follow-up indicates persistent pain episodes for many patients.
Area of Science:
- Oral Medicine
- Pain Management
- Neurology
Background:
- Atypical odontalgia is a chronic neuropathic pain condition affecting the oral cavity.
- Previous research suggested strong links with migraine and psychological disturbances.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated overview of atypical odontalgia.
- To present preliminary long-term follow-up data on a cohort of patients.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 120 patients diagnosed with atypical odontalgia.
- Long-term follow-up assessment of a subsample of 28 patients.
Main Results:
- The condition predominantly affects women (81%) aged 23-60.
- The association with migraine and psychological disturbance appears weaker than previously reported.
- Long-term follow-up indicates that many patients experience recurrent pain episodes.
Conclusions:
- Atypical odontalgia primarily affects middle-aged women.
- The role of migraine and psychological factors may be less significant than initially believed.
- Antidepressant medication remains the primary treatment, though pain often persists.