[Odontogenic (concomitant) etiology of headache]

A systematic follow-up showed that out of 785 headache patients 1/4 had odontogenic pathogenic factors with possible connections to the headache syndrome and were indicated to be operated. 158 could be systematically examined and (surprisingly enough) improvement of headache syndromes ranking at 2/3 was about equally frequent within the group of those who had undergone dental operation and those that had not wanted to do so. In sub-groups different responses to operation were observed: cephalaea (permanent headache), better than migraine (attack figured headache); etiology of wisdom-tooth better than other tooth-pathology; upper jaw better than lower jaw. Our results once more underlined the multifactorial etiology of headache, that is opposed to a monocausal oriented headache diagnosis (as the IHS-nomenclature tries to impose). Still it has considered to be relevant that a good diagnostic examination in the field of tooth-, jaw- and mouth medicine should be conducted in every headache patient, even in "typical" migraine patients. When indicated, operations should be done; however the patient properly informed that improvement is not obligatory. Same time all the other possible etiologies for headaches shall be regarded and if positive treated.