Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Oral Pain Syndromes
Number of Conditions: 3
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.