Acute right-sided facial pain: a case report

Abstract

Aim: To report a case of mixed neuralgic and dental pain and to discuss the possible pathophysiological background.

Summary: A case of coexistent dental and neuralgic pain in the distribution of the trigeminal nerve is presented, and the endodontic and neurological treatments are described. The possible diagnostic and pathophysiological correlations are discussed.

Key learning points: * Pre-trigeminal and atypical neuralgias are amongst the possible differential diagnoses of acute dental pain. * In a patient with nonodontogenic pain, simultaneous dental pain in the same area could be overlooked. * Dentists should consider a nonodontogenic origin as a possible explanation for burning, lancinating or atypical pain. In such cases, an appropriate medical specialist should be consulted.