Orofacial pain

Orofacial pain is one of the most common reasons why many persons seek dental consultation. Because of the complex nature of the problem, patients with orofacial pain present a real diagnostic and theraputic challenge to the practitioner. Orofacial pain results from noxious stimulation of free nerve endings in orofacial tissues. The peripheral nerve endings act as nociceptors (pain receptors) detect and convey the noxious information to the brain, where pain is perceived. Although in a majority of patients the orofacial pain is of odontogenic origin (such as the sequel of dental caries or trauma to the tooth), non-odontogenic source of pain is also frequent in clinical practice (AU)