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Toothache with a multifactorial etiology: a case report
Y H Chen1, C C Tseng, W Y Chao
1Dental Department, National Cheng Kung University Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Endodontics & Dental Traumatology
|April 29, 1998
Summary
Orofacial pain can stem from dental and sinus issues. Treating maxillary sinusitis and chronic rhinitis resolved persistent facial pain unresponsive to root canal therapy.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Otolaryngology
- Pain Medicine
Background:
- Orofacial pain often presents complex diagnostic challenges.
- Differentiating dental from non-dental sources is crucial for effective treatment.
Observation:
- A patient presented with severe, spontaneous throbbing orofacial pain originating from a maxillary premolar.
- Initial endodontic treatment failed to alleviate the pain.
- Imaging revealed left inferior turbinate hypertrophy and maxillary sinus floor abnormalities.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with pulpitis, maxillary sinusitis, and chronic rhinitis.
- Surgical intervention (antrostomy, turbinectomy) combined with endodontic treatment successfully resolved the pain.
- This case highlights the diagnostic difficulty posed by multifactorial orofacial pain.
Implications:
- Maxillary sinusitis and chronic rhinitis can cause referred pain mimicking dental pathology.
- A multidisciplinary approach is essential for diagnosing and managing complex orofacial pain.
- Understanding referred pain mechanisms from paranasal sinuses is vital for clinicians.