What is orofacial pain?
Orofacial pain is discomfort in the form of impulses produced by lesions in the mouth and face that are sent to the brain through the trigeminal nerve. The pain can be mucosal, dental or masticatory, depending on the origin where it is produced.
Mucosal orofacial pain is usually caused by tobacco, alcohol or prostheses, dental pain is caused by caries and masticatory pain, more common in women, is related to bruxism, joint injuries and tooth loss.
Prognosis of the disease
The causes and symptoms of orofacial pain are very variable, so there is no exact prognosis since it will depend on each particular case and how the patient evolves to treatment. Even so, there are several techniques that can relieve pain and treat this pathology to allow the patient to go on with his or her daily life.
Symptoms of orofacial pain
The symptoms of orofacial pain reside mainly in the facial and oral area, causing head or jaw pain, clicking when opening the mouth, difficulty in opening or closing it, sensation of jaw dislocation, worn teeth and nasal symptoms such as rhinorrhea or nasal congestion, among others.
Sometimes its symptoms can be confused with other pathologies, so it is important to make a good diagnosis in order to address the disease correctly.
Medical tests for orofacial pain
For the diagnosis of this pathology it is advisable for the specialist to take a correct clinical history of the patient and, sometimes, to request other complementary tests such as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging.
What are the causes of orofacial pain?
The most common causes of orofacial pain are:
– Burning mouth syndrome
– Masticatory muscle disorders
– Temporomandibular joint disorders such as synovitis, capsulitis, osteoarthritis and arthritis.
– Neuralgia
– Headaches such as migraine and tension headache.
– Somatoform disorders
– Periodontal disease
– Xerostomia or dry mouth syndrome
– Systemic diseases
Orofacial pain is a pathology of varied symptoms that can be confused with other diseases.
Can it be prevented?
The prevention of orofacial pain involves trying to avoid its main risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol and caries, among others. It is important to follow a healthy lifestyle and brush your teeth frequently to maintain good oral health.
Treatments for orofacial pain
The treatment will depend on each particular case, although the specialist normally resorts to techniques with intraoral devices such as unloading splints, RFA, surgery, manual therapy with physiotherapy, infiltrations, tension control techniques, orthodontics and prosthetic reconstruction. The final objective of the process is functional, it will try to recover the functionality of the jaw and combat pain.
Medications for orofacial pain
The medication for the treatment of this pathology will always be according to the prescription of the specialist in charge of the patient’s case and according to the patient’s history. The drugs are a complement to the treatment, to alleviate the pain and allow the patient to continue with his daily life normally.
Which specialist treats it?
Orofacial pain is a pathology that can be treated by specialists in Physiotherapy, Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, since it affects the area of the mouth and face, although depending on each particular case, one specialist or another will be in charge of trying to combat this disease.