Atypical odontalgia. Update and comment on long-term follow-up

The purpose of the present study is to update the reader on atypical odontalgia and to present some preliminary data on the long-term follow-up of a subsample (n = 28) of these patients. Data based on 120 patients tend to support earlier findings that indicate that primarily women (81%) between the ages of 23 and 60 have this condition. Pain is generally localized in the teeth but may involve several areas of the oral cavity. On the basis of this larger sample size, the relationship between atypical odontalgia and migraine does not appear to be as strong as initially reported. Psychologic disturbance also may play a less significant role than initially thought. Follow-up data on 28 patients suggest that many patients will continue to experience episodes of pain. Antidepressant medication still appears to be the treatment of choice for this condition.