[Persistent idiopathic facial pain and atypical odontalgia]

Abstract

The terms 'persistent idiopathic facial pain' (PIFP) and 'atypical odontalgia' (AO) are currently used as exclusion diagnoses for chronic toothache and chronic facial pain. Knowledge about these pain conditions in medical and dental practices is of crucial importance for the prevention of iatrogenic tissue damage by not-indicated invasive interventions, such as endodontic treatment and tooth extraction. In the present paper, etiology and pathogenesis, differential diagnostic criteria, and diagnostic approaches will be explained and relevant therapeutic principles will be outlined.

Keywords: Anhaltender idiopathischer Gesichtsschmerz; Persistent idiopathic facial pain; atypical odontalgia; atypische Odontalgie; iatrogene Schädigung; iatrogenic damage; persistent dento-alveolar pain disorder (PDAP); persistierende dento-alveoläre Schmerzstörung; traumatic trigeminal neuropathy; traumatische trigeminale Neuropathie.