Benign indomethacin-responsive headaches presenting in the orofacial region: eight case reports

Indomethacin-responsive headaches can present in the orofacial region. According to the classification of headache by the International Headache Society, indomethacin-responsive headaches include chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, hemicrania continue, benign cough headache, benign exertional headache, and sharp, short-lived headache pain syndrome. The mechanism by which indomethacin produces its therapeutic effects in these headache disorders remains speculative. A review of indomethacin-responsive headaches and eight cases in which the presenting symptom was orofacial pain are reported. Because these headache disorders are rare but may present as facial pain, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of orofacial pain. A comprehensive evaluation prior to performing irreversible treatments is essential when an idiopathic facial pain presents to the dental clinician.