title: Occipital neuralgia manifesting as orofacial pain.
abstract: This is a case report and brief review of the literature on occipital neuralgia presenting as dental pain. A patient with a chief complaint of long-standing pain in the maxillary right posterior quadrant was evaluated. Dental examination demonstrated the pain was not of odontogenic origin. The patient was referred to a neurologist who was a chronic pain specialist and was diagnosed with a rare neurologic disorder, occipital neuralgia referring to the facial region. After conservative treatment, local nerve blocks, and physical therapy, the patient reported a dramatic improvement of symptoms and total absence of all orofacial pain. The case demonstrates an unusual cause of orofacial pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor 48109-1078, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sulfaro
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gobetti
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009288:Naproxen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009407:Nerve Block; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012535:Scalp / Q000294:innervation*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D009288:Naproxen