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Use of the Operant Orofacial Pain Assessment Device (OPAD) to Measure Changes in Nociceptive Behavior
Published on: June 10, 2013
Recognition and management of odontogenic referred pain
H Dwight Moss1, Nicholas Toscano, Dan Holtzclaw
1Department of Endodontics, Dental Detachment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, USA.
Abstract:
There are times when referred pain makes it difficult to locate the source of odontogenic pain. In those situations, additional evaluation or referral is needed to determine the cause of the chief complaint. This article presents two cases that illustrate the difficulty and frustrations of referred pain for both patients and dentists. After a thorough evaluation and diagnosis, the true sources of the patients' chief complaints were identified and treated, leading to complete resolution of their symptoms. These cases emphasize the importance of listening to the patient, obtaining a detailed dental history, collecting comprehensive diagnostic data, and developing an accurate diagnosis before initiating treatment. When a definitive diagnosis cannot be determined, referral may be necessary to provide the best treatment possible.
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