Diagnosis and treatment of atypical odontalgia: a review of the literature and two case reports.
OBJECTIVE
This report presents two cases diagnosed with atypical odontalgia (AO) and successfully treated with amitriptyline as well as providing a review of the current literature on the subject.


RESULTS
The literature indicates the most important issue is an accurate differential diagnosis to distinguish between AO, pulpal pain, myofascial pain, and trigeminal neuralgia.


CONCLUSIONS
Once the correct diagnosis is made the prognosis of AO is usually fair and the administration of tricyclic antidepressants often resolves symptoms. An effort should be made to avoid any unnecessary dental treatment that would only aggravate the problem.
Melis
Marcello
M
Craniofacial Pain Center, Tufts University, USA. marcellomelis01@libero.it
Secci
Simona
S
D000328:Adult; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003788:Dental Pulp Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis; D014098:Toothache / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D000639:Amitriptyline