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Updated: May 11, 2026
Use of the Operant Orofacial Pain Assessment Device (OPAD) to Measure Changes in Nociceptive Behavior
Published on: June 10, 2013
Seven-year follow-up of patients diagnosed with atypical odontalgia: a prospective study
Maria Pigg1, Peter Svensson, Mark Drangsholt
1Department of Endotontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Sweden. maria.pigg@mah.se
Aims:
To examine the long-term prognosis of 46 previously examined atypical odontalgia (AO) patients.
Methods:
In 2002 and 2009, AO patients completed validated instruments measuring pain characteristics (pain frequency and intensity), physical functioning (Graded Chronic Pain Severity, GCPS) and emotional functioning (Symptoms Checklist, SCL-90R). The main outcome was global improvement. Baseline data on quantitative somatosensory testing and responsiveness to lidocaine injection were available for a subgroup of patients. Paired tests compared baseline and follow-up data, and logistic regression explored the possible prognostic value of baseline data.
Results:
Data from 37 patients (80%) were obtained. Thirteen patients (35%; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 20.2%-52.5%) rated their overall pain status as significantly improved, 22 (60%; 95% CI 42.1%-75.3%) as a little improved or unchanged, and two patients (5%; 95% CI 0.7%-18.2%) as worse. Five patients (14%; 95% CI 4.5%-28.8%) were pain-free, indicated by a characteristic pain intensity score of 0. Average pain intensity decreased (from 5.7 ± 2.0 to 3.5 ± 2.4; P < .001). Pain frequency (P < .001) and GCPS (P < .001) also decreased, whereas SCL-90R scores remained unchanged and 26 of the 37 patients reported ongoing treatment. Low baseline pain intensity was the only factor predictive of favorable outcome.
Conclusion:
A third of the AO patients improved considerably over time, but for many of the patients, AO was a persistent and treatment-resistant condition.