OROFACIAL PAIN

Orofacial Pain: What is it? Who treats it?

Do any of these sound familiar?

Tooth pain but your dentist cannot find a cause
Persistent pain after a root canal, extraction, or other dental treatment
Burning, tingling, or nerve pain in the face or mouth
Facial pain that has not responded to traditional dental treatment
Muscle pain in the face, jaw, temples, or neck
Trigeminal neuralgia or other nerve disorders

Diagnosis of Orofacial Pain

Many patients who seek treatment for orofacial pain have already seen multiple healthcare providers and undergone various treatments without finding lasting relief. One of the most common reasons for this is that a diagnosis has never been clearly established.

Terms such as "TMJ," "facial pain," "tooth pain," or even "headaches" describe where symptoms occur, but they do not explain why those symptoms are occurring. Because many different conditions can produce similar symptoms, obtaining an accurate diagnosis is the most important step in developing an effective treatment plan.

A comprehensive evaluation may include a detailed review of your medical and dental history, assessment of the jaw joints, muscles, nerves, head and neck structures, imaging studies when appropriate, and consideration of other medical conditions that may be contributing to your symptoms.

Our goal is to move beyond a generalized description of your pain and determine the specific diagnosis responsible for your symptoms. Once a diagnosis is established, we can develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your individual condition and needs.

Not all tooth pain comes from a tooth.
Not all facial pain comes from the jaw.
Not all burning sensations are caused by nerves.

The diagnosis determines the treatment.

What is an Orofacial Pain Specialist?

An Orofacial Pain Specialist is a dentist who has completed advanced training in diagnosing and treating complex pain disorders affecting the mouth, teeth, face, jaw, head, and neck.

Many patients seek care from an Orofacial Pain Specialist after seeing multiple healthcare providers without receiving a clear diagnosis or lasting relief. Conditions such as persistent tooth pain, nerve pain, facial pain, burning mouth syndrome, trigeminal neuralgia, and pain following dental procedures can be difficult to diagnose because they often mimic other dental or medical conditions.

Orofacial Pain became an official dental specialty recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA) in 2020. Specialists in this field complete extensive training beyond dental school to identify the underlying cause of pain and develop evidence-based treatment plans tailored to each patient's individual condition.

Our goal is to move beyond simply treating symptoms and determine why the pain is occurring so that treatment can be directed at the source of the problem.

Why Does My Tooth Hurt If My Dentist Can't Find Anything?

Many patients are surprised to learn that pain that feels like a toothache may actually originate from nerves, muscles, headache disorders, or other structures in the head and neck. Identifying the true source of pain is one of the primary roles of an Orofacial Pain Specialist. In some cases, patients undergo multiple root canals, extractions, or other dental procedures because the underlying source of pain has not been identified.

Pain Following Dental Treatment

Most dental procedures heal uneventfully. Occasionally, however, pain persists long after the tooth or tissues have healed. In these situations, the pain may be originating from the nervous system, surrounding muscles, or another source rather than the tooth itself. An Orofacial Pain evaluation can help determine why symptoms have continued and whether additional dental treatment is necessary.

Nerve Pain Disorders

Nerve pain disorders can develop when the nerves that transmit sensation from the face, mouth, or teeth become injured, irritated, or dysfunctional. Unlike typical dental pain, nerve pain may be described as burning, tingling, electric shock-like, stabbing, aching, or persistent pain that continues even after the original injury or dental problem has resolved. In some cases, nerve pain can mimic a toothache, causing patients to undergo dental treatment without relief.

Common nerve pain disorders include:

Trigeminal Neuralgia
Post-Traumatic Neuropathic Pain
Persistent Dentoalveolar Pain
Post-Herpetic Neuralgia

Because nerve pain can be complex and difficult to diagnose, a thorough evaluation is often necessary to identify the source of symptoms and determine appropriate treatment options.

Muscle Pain Disorders and Referred Pain

The muscles of the jaw, face, head, and neck can be a significant source of pain and are often overlooked. Muscle pain may develop from clenching, grinding, stress, injury, poor posture, sleep disturbances, or overuse of the jaw muscles. One of the unique characteristics of muscle pain is that it frequently occurs in a different location than its source, a phenomenon known as referred pain. For example, tight muscles in the jaw may cause pain that feels like a toothache, earache, temple headache, sinus pressure, or facial pain. Because these symptoms can mimic dental, sinus, or ear problems, many patients undergo multiple evaluations before the true source of their pain is identified. Accurate diagnosis is essential, as treatment is directed at the affected muscles rather than the area where the pain is being felt.

Many patients who seek care from an Orofacial Pain Specialist have spent months or even years searching for answers. Our goal is to identify the true source of your symptoms, explain your diagnosis in a way that makes sense, and develop a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs.