%0 Journal Article
%T Biopsychosocial Aspects of Atypical Odontalgia
%A A. Ciaramella
%A M. Paroli
%A L. Lonia
%A M. Bosco
%A P. Poli
%J ISRN Neuroscience
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/413515
%X Background. A few studies have found somatosensory abnormalities in atypical odontalgia (AO) patients. The aim of the study is to explore the presence of specific abnormalities in facial pain patients that can be considered as psychophysical factors predisposing to AO. Materials and Methods. The AO subjects ( ) have been compared to pain-free ( ), trigeminal neuralgia ( ), migraine ( ), and temporomandibular disorder ( ). The neurometer current perception threshold (CPT) was used to investigate somatosensory perception. Structured clinical interviews based on the DSM-IV axis I and DSM III-R axis II criteria for psychiatric disorders and self-assessment questionnaires were used to evaluate psychopathology and aggressive behavior among subjects. Results. Subjects with AO showed a lower A¦Â, A¦Ä, and C trigeminal fiber pain perception threshold when compared to a pain-free control group. Resentment was determined to be inversely related to A¦Â (rho: 0.62, ), A¦Ä (rho: 0.53, ) and C fibers (rho: 0.54, ), and depression was inversely related with C fiber (rho: 0.52, ) perception threshold only in AO subjects. Conclusion. High levels of depression and resentment can be considered predictive psychophysical factors for the development of AO after dental extraction. 1. Introduction Atypical Odontalgia (AO) is a persistent pain condition located in the teeth and jaws. It has been described as a persistent neuropathic pain that may be initiated after the deafferentiation of trigeminal nerve fibers following a root canal treatment, an apicoectomy, or a tooth extraction, or it may be of idiopathic origin [1]. The terminology and specific criteria for its classification remain a matter of discussion [2]. The International Headache Society [3] considers AO to be a type of persistent, idiopathic, orofacial pain that is often difficult to diagnose because it is associated with a lack of clinical and radiographic abnormalities. Laboratory investigations, including X-rays of the face, jaws and teeth, do not indicate any relevant abnormalities. In the case of a tooth extraction, the pain is found in the edentate area and usually extends to the other adjacent facial structures. Several criteria for the diagnosis of AO have been suggested [4, 5]. A few studies have found somatosensory abnormalities in AO patients [6¨C8]. These sensory modifications were located intraoral on the site of the treated tooth, suggesting a disturbance of the central processing or craniofacial information carried by the trigeminal nerve [9]. However, a lack of apparent physical causes has led some
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.neuroscience/2013/413515/