Atypical odontalgia.

Atypical odontalgia describes atypical facial pain in apparently normal teeth. Unfortunately, dentists usually consider this diagnosis only after the failure of invasive treatment. Atypical odontalgia patients are typified by women in their mid-40s who complain of persistent pain in one or more premolar or molar teeth. They associate pain with dental procedures or trauma to the region. While the cause of atypical odontalgia is uncertain, deafferentation pain appears to be a plausible mechanism. This article reviews relevant aspects of this perplexing pain problem. To help avert the untimely diagnosis of atypical odontalgia, identifying inclusion criteria are presented.