Phantom Tooth Pain | Uncovering the Mysteries
Every now or then in our dental practice, we encounter a perplexing case of tooth pain for which no odontogenic cause could be recognized.
Phantom tooth pain also called atypical odontalgia, or a psychogenic toothache is a neuropathic pain characterized by chronic pain in a tooth or teeth, or at a site where teeth have been extracted or following an endodontic treatment, without an identifiable clinical or radiographic cause. Over time, the pain may spread to more extensive areas of the face or jaws.
In this talk, I will discuss phantom tooth pain, briefly explaining the relevant pain pathways and basic neuropathic pain concepts. I will also review various orofacial pain conditions that could result in phantom tooth pain and management strategies for this type of pain condition to help your patients in your office.