Condition Lookup
Number of Conditions: 7
Toothache (Odontalgia)
Specialty: Dental and Oral Health
Category: Oral Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders
Sub-category: Oral Pain Syndromes
Symptoms:
sharp or throbbing pain in or around a tooth; sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet stimuli; swelling; bad taste in the mouth; difficulty chewing
Root Cause:
Often due to dental caries, infection, trauma, or gum disease.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation, dental X-rays, pulp vitality testing.
Treatment:
Treat the underlying cause (e.g., fillings for cavities, root canal therapy for infection, or antibiotics for abscess).
Medications:
Analgesics (e.g., ibuprofen , acetaminophen ), antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin , clindamycin ) for infections.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Extremely common; nearly everyone experiences toothache at some point in life.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Poor oral hygiene, high sugar diet, lack of dental care access.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with proper dental care; untreated cases can lead to severe complications.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Tooth loss, abscess, spread of infection to other parts of the body (e.g., Ludwig’s angina, sepsis).
Oral Neuralgia (Nerve Pain in the Mouth)
Specialty: Dental and Oral Health
Category: Oral Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders
Sub-category: Oral Pain Syndromes
Symptoms:
sharp, shooting pain in the mouth or jaw; tingling or numbness; triggered by chewing, talking, or touching certain areas
Root Cause:
Dysfunction or irritation of oral nerves, often related to trigeminal neuralgia or nerve damage.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation, imaging to rule out structural causes, and response to nerve-blocking medications.
Treatment:
Pain management, nerve desensitization therapies, or surgery for severe cases.
Medications:
Anticonvulsants (e.g., carbamazepine , gabapentin ), tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline ).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare but more common in older adults.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Nerve damage from dental procedures, infections (e.g., herpes zoster), or underlying neurological disorders.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies; some cases resolve, while others require ongoing pain management.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic pain, difficulty eating or speaking, and reduced quality of life.
Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS)
Specialty: Dental and Oral Health
Category: Oral Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders
Sub-category: Oral Pain Syndromes
Symptoms:
burning or scalding sensation in the mouth; dry mouth; altered taste or metallic taste; pain typically worsens throughout the day
Root Cause:
Exact cause unknown; associated with nerve dysfunction, hormonal changes, or psychological factors.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis of exclusion after ruling out other conditions (e.g., candidiasis, nutritional deficiencies).
Treatment:
Symptom management, addressing underlying issues, and psychological support if necessary.
Medications:
Clonazepam (an anticonvulsant), gabapentin (for nerve pain), amitriptyline (tricyclic antidepressant for chronic pain).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects about 1–5% of the population, more common in postmenopausal women.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Female gender, age (middle-aged/older adults), stress, anxiety, depression.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; some patients improve spontaneously, while others have chronic symptoms.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic pain, psychological distress, reduced quality of life.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction
Specialty: Dental and Oral Health
Category: Oral Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders
Sub-category: Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders
Symptoms:
jaw pain; clicking or popping sound in the jaw; difficulty opening/closing mouth; headaches; facial pain; earaches or tinnitus
Root Cause:
Dysfunction in the TMJ due to muscle tension, joint misalignment, cartilage damage, or trauma.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical exam (palpation of the jaw), imaging (X-ray, MRI, or CT scan), and patient history.
Treatment:
Lifestyle modifications, physical therapy, jaw exercises, stress management, and dental appliances (splints or night guards).
Medications:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen , muscle relaxants (e.g., cyclobenzaprine ), and in severe cases, corticosteroid injections into the joint.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 5-12% of the population, more common in women aged 20-40.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Jaw injury, teeth grinding (bruxism), arthritis, and stress.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with treatment; most cases improve with conservative management.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic pain, restricted jaw movement, and joint damage.
Arthritis of the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ Arthritis)
Specialty: Dental and Oral Health
Category: Oral Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders
Sub-category: Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders
Symptoms:
jaw pain; stiffness; swelling around the joint; reduced range of motion; joint noises
Root Cause:
Inflammation of the TMJ due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or trauma.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Imaging (X-ray, MRI, or CT scan), physical exam, and blood tests (if autoimmune arthritis is suspected).
Treatment:
Anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, dental splints, and in severe cases, joint replacement surgery.
Medications:
NSAIDs (e.g., naproxen ), corticosteroids (injections or systemic), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like methotrexate (for rheumatoid arthritis).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
TMJ arthritis is relatively rare compared to TMJ dysfunction; prevalence increases with age or autoimmune conditions.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, trauma, and infection.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies depending on the cause; progressive in autoimmune forms but manageable with treatment.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic pain, jaw deformities, and ankylosis (fusion of the joint).
TMJ Dislocation
Specialty: Dental and Oral Health
Category: Oral Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders
Sub-category: Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders
Symptoms:
inability to close the mouth; severe jaw pain; swelling; visible jaw misalignment
Root Cause:
Displacement of the TMJ out of its normal position, usually due to trauma or overextension.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination and imaging (X-rays, CT scans).
Treatment:
Manual reduction (realignment by a healthcare provider), muscle relaxants, and surgical stabilization if recurrent.
Medications:
Muscle relaxants like diazepam , pain relievers (e.g., acetaminophen or NSAIDs), and, in rare cases, botulinum toxin injections.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Uncommon, with a higher incidence in individuals with ligament laxity.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Trauma, hypermobility syndromes, and excessive mouth opening.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with prompt treatment; recurrent dislocations may require surgery.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic instability and joint damage.
Bruxism (Teeth Grinding and Clenching)
Specialty: Dental and Oral Health
Category: Oral Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders
Sub-category: Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders
Symptoms:
jaw pain; headaches; tooth wear or fractures; ear pain; tight jaw muscles
Root Cause:
Involuntary grinding or clenching of teeth, often due to stress, sleep disorders, or misaligned teeth.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Dental exam showing worn teeth, patient history, and sometimes polysomnography (sleep study).
Treatment:
Stress management, dental appliances (mouthguards), behavioral therapy, and treating underlying sleep disorders.
Medications:
Muscle relaxants (e.g., baclofen ), botulinum toxin injections to relax jaw muscles, and in some cases, anti-anxiety medications.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 10-15% of adults; higher in those with stress or anxiety disorders.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Stress, sleep apnea, misaligned teeth, and stimulant use (e.g., caffeine or amphetamines).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with appropriate treatment; untreated cases can lead to dental complications.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Tooth damage, TMJ dysfunction, and chronic jaw pain.