Non-Odontogenic Toothaches: The Mysterious Pain That Won't Go Away
The Frustration of Unresolved Tooth Pain
Have you heard of phantom tooth pain? It's similar to phantom limb pain, but it affects the teeth.
Many patients have come to us and said, "I have had so much dental work done already. I got a filling, then a crown, then a root canal, and then finally, we pulled the tooth, and I'm STILL in pain! I spent all this money, and I am just so frustrated, and I don't know what to do."
Sadly, this happens to many people, and they suffer irreversible, expensive, and unnecessary dental treatments with no results.
Identifying Atypical Odontalgia
Does this sound like you or someone you know? Perhaps you have experienced a chronic toothache or atypical odontalgia that no one seems to know what's causing it.
This pain comes in different forms; it can be burning, sharp, dull aching, or one that feels like electricity is being sent through a tooth. It might affect multiple teeth or your gum tissue.
Do you have a toothache that is constant, persistent, or recurring? If so, don't lose hope!
Don't Lose Hope
Have you seen a dental professional already and have had no response to reasonable dental therapy? If your dentist, endodontist, or oral surgeon says there is no identifiable cause of the pain, maybe your tooth pain is not originating from a tooth-related problem. It is reported that 37% of patients diagnosed with muscular orofacial pain had previously undergone endodontic or exodontic treatment in an attempt to alleviate their pain (1). Up to one-third of patients seeking help for chronic facial pain have undergone prior irreversible and unnecessary dental procedures (2).
Why Does This Happen?
As usual, it could be a number of things. There are a variety of factors that can be the cause of persistent tooth pain or atypical odontalgia. It could be muscular in nature, like myofascial pain syndrome, or nerve pain related, like neuropathic pain or trigeminal neuralgia. This is where pain originates from other sites of your head or neck region, but you feel it in your mouth, teeth, or gums.
What Are the Contributing Factors?
Multiple factors can make someone susceptible to getting atypical odontalgia or chronic tooth pain. This includes having other chronic pain conditions, like chronic neck pain or headaches.
Also, increased stress, anxiety, and depression could be contributing factors.
References:
- Linn, J., Trantor, I., Teo, N., Thanigaivel, R., & Goss, A. N. (2007). The differential diagnosis of toothache from other orofacial pains in clinical practice. Australian Dental Journal, 52(S1), S100-S104. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1834-7819.2007.tb00522.x
- Clark, G. T. (2006). Persistent orodental pain, atypical odontalgia, and phantom tooth pain: When are they neuropathic disorders? Journal of the California Dental Association, 34(8), 599-609.
