Introduction to Orofacial Pain

This lecture will serve as an introduction to the field of orofacial pain and the various sources of pain in the orofacial area, other than those coming from the teeth. For instance, myofascial trigger points can refer pain to the teeth and gingiva and can be mistaken for a toothache and may lead unnecessary endodontic treatments or even extractions.

We will cover various other sources of orofacial pain such as mid-face migraines, post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy, etc. This lecture is aimed at general dentists, at the conclusion of the lecture, they should be able to differentiate between the various categories of orofacial pain.

Course Outline:

• Various categories of Orofacial Pain
• Myofascial toothache
• Neuropathic toothache
• Neurovascular toothache
• Toothache due to sinusitis/ malignancy