C.E. Credit. Diagnosing Non-Odontogenic Sources of Dental Pain: A Case Report and Review of the International Classification of Orofacial Pain, 1^st Edition

ABSTRACT

Background

Diagnosing the source of dental pain can be challenging for even the most experienced dentist, particularly in cases of patients with chronic pain, which may present with less localized and nonspecific symptoms.

Case description

The International Classification of Orofacial Pain, 1^st edition (ICOP-1) is a comprehensive classification of orofacial pain that includes both odontogenic and non-odontogenic pain conditions and can help dentists determine the cause of dental pain. In this article, we present a case of a patient presenting with chronic orofacial pain and review the clinical features and diagnostic tests that help distinguish between odontogenic and non-odontogenic pain as defined by the ICOP-1.

Practical implications

An accurate diagnosis of orofacial pain requires a detailed history, a thorough clinical and radiographic examination, and up-to-date knowledge of the current classification system of orofacial pain.

Continuing Education Credit Available

The practice worksheet is available online in the supplemental material tab for this article. A CDA Continuing Education quiz is online for this article: https://www.cdapresents360.com/learn/catalog/view/20.

KEYWORDS:

• Persistent idiopathic dentoalveolar pain
• orofacial pain
• oral diagnosis
• dental pain

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/19424396.2023.2280283.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ifrana Zaman

Ifrana Zaman, DDS, is the chief resident in orofacial pain at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Shaiba Sandhu

Shaiba Sandhu, BDS, DDS, MS, is an assistant professor of oral medicine and orofacial pain at Workman School of Dental Medicine at High Point Univeristy.

Roxanne Bavarian

Roxanne Bavarian, DMD, DMSc, is an instructor and clinical faculty of orofacial pain, oral medicine, and dental sleep medicine at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and Massachusetts General Hospital.