Comparison of Clinical Findings and Psychosocial Factors in Patients with Atypical Odontalgia and Temporomandibular Disorders

Aims: To systematically compare clinical findings and psychosocial factors between patients suffering from atypical odontalgia (AO) and an age- and gender-matched group of patients with temporo-mandibular disorders (TMD). Methods: Forty-six AO patients (7 men and 39 women; mean age, 56 years) were compared with 41 TMD patients (8 men and 33 women; mean age, 58 years). Results: Mean pain intensity at the time of inclusion in the study was similar between the groups (TMD: 5.3 ± 0.4, AO: 5.0 ± 0.3), but pain duration was longer in AO patients (AO: 7.7 ± 1.1 years, TMD: 4.5 ± 0.1 years). Eighty-three percent of the AO patients and 15%of TMD patients reported pain onset in relation to dental/surgical procedures. Episodic tension-type headache (TTH) occurred equally in both groups (TMD: 46%, AO: 46%), but TMD patients more frequently experienced chronic TTH (TMD: 35%, AO: 18%), myofascial TMD (TMD: 93%, AO: 50%), and temporo-mandibular joint disorders (TMD: 66%, AO: 2%). Overall, TMD patients had lower pressure pain thresholds and poorer jaw func-tion than AO patients. Mean depression and somatization scores were moderate to severe in both groups, and widespread pain was most common in TMD patients. Conclusion: AO and TMD share some characteristics but differ significantly in report of dental trauma, jaw function, pain duration, and pain site.

neuropathic pain; orofacial pain; pain characteristics; psychosocial status; quality of life

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