Orofacial pain syndromes: evaluation and management

Abstract

Patients will often visit their primary medical practitioner with orofacial pain complaints. Hence, it is important to recognize and have an understanding of these conditions to properly evaluate and potentially manage these disorders. If the practitioner is uncertain or uncomfortable with these conditions, then patient referral to a knowledgeable health care practitioner should be considered for further evaluation and management. In this article, the evaluation and management of various neuropathic, neurovascular, and vascular pains are discussed.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Management; Neuropathic pain; Neurovascular pain; Orofacial pain; Vascular pain.