Myofascial pain syndrome misdiagnosed as odontogenic pain: a case report

Abstract

The aim of this report is to illustrate the case of a patient whose myofascial pain syndrome was misdiagnosed as odontogenic pain, and who was treated using irreversible dental procedures. Even if dental pain commonly has an odontogenic etiology, it is also possible that pain arising from different orofacial sites such as jaw muscles, maxillary sinus, or nervous structures can be referred to the teeth. When the etiology of a dental pain condition cannot be clearly identified, it is necessary to consider all possible causes of dental pain, which may also be nonodontogenic. The need for comprehensive examination and careful diagnosis before irreversible dental treatment is emphasized.