II dolore oro-facciale idiopatico

Objectives. The diagnosis and management of chronic orofacial pain is one of the most challenging, but also one of the most intriguing, fields in dentistry, because the usual mechanistic model may be not applicable. Patients suffering from chronic pain usually present with a long, complex history that includes oral symptoms as well as symptoms of psychological distress. Materials and methods. This article reviews the recent literature on idiopathic orofacial pain. While considerable progress has been made in pain research, some types of orofacial pain are still poorly understood and are identified solely on the basis of their clinical manifestations. Results. The aim of this article is to contribute to a better understanding of several common orofacial pain syndromes, such as persistent idiopathic facial pain, the burning mouth syndrome, and the trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgias. Discussion and conclusions. Although our knowledge of idiopathic oral pain has increased over the past few years, it is important to maintain an interdisciplinary approach to these elusive entities in order to provide appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic support.