Pathology in the lower half of the functional face - its significance in clinical medicine

The term "functional" face is introduced, defined, and its significance as a major reception area is stressed. Common symptoms (fatigue, headache, dizziness, nausea, tension and irritability) whose aetiology and pathogenesis are often unknown or unclear, an presumed by many to have a psychogenic origin, may have their source in locally asymptomatic pathology in the mandible and maxillae (impacted teeth (1), non-vital teeth and residual infection (2)). Reasons are suggested for physicians and dentists overlooking this pathology. Based on known and accepted anatomical, physiological and pathological considerations a new evaluation of this locally asymptomatic pathology is offered. It will be argued that, at present, the diagnosis of psychogenic origin for these symptoms is untenable. Clinical evidence supporting the hypothesis is provided.