| Abstract: | Determining the cause of headaches can present one of the most complex and confusing diagnostic problems experienced in the dental and medical professions. Many headache victims may drift from doctor to doctor seeking relief from their symptoms. Misdiagnosis is not uncommon.This paper presents an overview of the subject of nondentally related chronic orofacial pain, a discussion of possible predisposing factors, and an outline of diagnostic signs and symptoms. Reviewed are such disorders as migraine, sinusitis, trigeminal neuralgia, cluster headache, hypertension headache, and cervical neuralgia. Current approaches to the diagnosis and management of chronic facial pain are multifactorial and multidisciplinary. The importance of a comprehensive assessment of all possible factors before arriving at a diagnosis and treatment regimen is emphasized. |
