DENTAL HEALTH...PHANTOM TOOTH PAIN

DENTAL HEALTH…PHANTOM TOOTH PAIN

Sep 11, 2016 News

By Dr. Neromini Fagu

Phantom tooth pain is a real condition in dentistry. It is also known by such names as atypical odontalgia, neuropathic orofacial pain, idiopathic odontalgia, and oral neuropathic pain.
Similar to phantom limb experienced by amputees, phantom tooth pain may be felt where there once was a tooth. This pain may begin as an ache where a tooth had been and may spread to nearby parts of the mouth and face.
For some people the pain can be so frustrating that they will visit various dentists only to be told that there is nothing wrong with their teeth. This mysterious pain may often begin after a dental procedure such as a root canal, an extraction, or a filling.
SYMPTOMS
Some of the symptoms of this frustrating condition include the following:
· Moderate to severe throbbing tooth pain
· Tooth pain triggered by pressure and/or hot or cold temperatures
· Tooth pain lingering after a dental procedure
· Tooth pain that begins at the site of a dental procedure but spreads to one side of the mouth or extends throughout the entire mouth
· Tooth pain in single or multiple locations
· Tooth pain despite dental x-rays that do not reveal any tooth decay or other damage
CAUSES OF PHANTOM TOOTH PAIN
The cause of phantom tooth pain is not clearly understood, but the following may play a role in the condition:
· Dental treatment or surgical procedures in the mouth
· Trauma to the face
· Needle puncture
· Referred pain from other parts of the head or body
DIAGNOSIS OF PHANTOM TOOTH PAIN
Phantom tooth pain can be difficult to diagnose, as patients with this condition often feel pain when there is no identifiable physical cause.
Sometimes, a series of specific diagnostic tests may result in the proper diagnosis, but a diagnosis is more often arrived at by eliminating other potential causes for the pain.
Your dentist will take a detailed dental history, perform a clinical examination and look at whether you have had any invasive dental work done in the past.
Dental x-rays will be taken and an MRI or CT scan may also be requested. You might also be asked a number of questions, including your pain’s intensity and location, whether any particular circumstances are associated with the onset of pain, whether anything improves or worsens the pain, and whether your pain is periodic, continuous or intermittent.
Since phantom tooth pain usually does not have any associated physical problem, you might also be asked whether you experience depression, anxiety or any psychiatric disorder.
In the end, diagnosis is a process of elimination where other causes for the pain are ruled out. Unfortunately, misdiagnosis can also occur.
TREATMENT
Treatment usually involves pain management and NOT dental work. The most effective way to achieve pain management depends on whether the pain originates in the peripheral nervous system (nerves in the, arms, legs, face and mouth) or in the central nervous system (the brain and spine).
If the pain is peripheral, patients may find relief with local anesthetics, steroids or the application of topical pain-relieving creams which help to curb nerve activity.
Treatment for pain stemming from the central nervous system includes antidepressants, anticonvulsants or narcotic pain relievers. Acupuncture and certain other alternative medical procedures may also be suggested.
Because diagnosis is so difficult, many unnecessary teeth extractions and root canal procedures are performed in failed attempts to stop the pain. Sadly, these procedures will not help when the problem is phantom tooth pain and pain may still linger at an extraction site or in a root canal-treated tooth. Sometimes, surgical intervention may actually make the condition worse, leading to more widespread pain.
For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to [email protected].