Atypical odontalgia

Forty-four cases of odontalgia are described which are considered to be a painful migraine-like disturbance of the blood vessels of the dental pulp and periodontal membrane. The condition appears to be a manifestation of depression and other personality disorders and responds well to antidepressant drug therapy (75 per cent of the patients). The recognition and proper management of this atypical ondontalgia is of crucial importance in preventing unnecessary surgery.