Facial Pain Diagnosis

The diagnosis and management of facial pain below the eye can be very different dependant on whether the patient visits a dentist or medical practitioner. At our office we consider and either rule in or rule out facial pain of dental origin. Once all structures inside the mouth, and supporting muscles and joints have been ruled out, proper referral is made to competent practitioners for further investigation. If, however, the source of pain is of dental nature, we will isolate and advise the patient on the proper course of action. The commonest acute causes of pain are dental and these are well managed by Endodontists. Chronic facial pain can be unilateral or bilateral and continuous or episodic. The commonest non-dental pains are temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), especially musculoskeletal involving the muscles of mastication either unilaterally or bilaterally; they may be associated with other chronic pains.