Selected pain states and the use of anesthesia in dentistry

Certain pain disorders may be difficult to diagnose because their presenting symptoms are confusing and difficult to classify, or because they occur so infrequently that they are not commonly considered. This article has presented a classification and discussion of selected pain states which the practitioner may find difficult to diagnose. When faced with a perplexing pain problem, the dentist is encouraged to perform a careful evaluation to determine whether the patient's pain is or is not of dental origin. Certain pain states require that the patient be referred for evaluation to other dental or medical specialists. The value of local anesthesia as a diagnostic aid in evaluating face and head pain has been presented.