Clinical investigation of patients who develop neuropathic tooth pain after endodontic procedures

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the characteristics of patients with neuropathic tooth pain (NTP) who were selected from a group of patients who developed persistent pain after undergoing endodontic procedures.

Methods: Of 271 patients who had chronic persistent pain that did not respond to previous endodontic procedures and were referred to the Endodontic Team of the Nippon Dental University Hospital, 16 patients (5.9%; mean age, 46.8 years; 13 women) who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for NTP were recruited. The inclusion criteria for the patients were the presence of chronic persistent pain and other pain-related symptoms, despite the absence of major pathology.

Results: Pain predominantly occurred in the maxilla (14 patients). In 10 patients (62.5%), NTP developed after retreatment. Daily application of tricyclic antidepressants produced pain relief in 11 patients (68.8%).

Conclusions: These results indicated that NTP is a rare type of chronic intractable endodontic pain and that careful diagnosis of NTP is important.