Clinical investigation of patients who develop neuropathic tooth pain after endodontic procedures.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to determine the characteristics of patients with neuropathic tooth pain (NTP) who were selected from a group of patients who developed persistent pain after undergoing endodontic procedures.


METHODS
Of 271 patients who had chronic persistent pain that did not respond to previous endodontic procedures and were referred to the Endodontic Team of the Nippon Dental University Hospital, 16 patients (5.9%; mean age, 46.8 years; 13 women) who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for NTP were recruited. The inclusion criteria for the patients were the presence of chronic persistent pain and other pain-related symptoms, despite the absence of major pathology.


RESULTS
Pain predominantly occurred in the maxilla (14 patients). In 10 patients (62.5%), NTP developed after retreatment. Daily application of tricyclic antidepressants produced pain relief in 11 patients (68.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicated that NTP is a rare type of chronic intractable endodontic pain and that careful diagnosis of NTP is important.
Oshima
Katsuo
K
Endodontic Team, Nippon Dental University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. oshima-k@tky.ndu.ac.jp
Ishii
Takashi
T
Ogura
Yoko
Y
Aoyama
Yukio
Y
Katsuumi
Ichiroh
I
D000368:Aged; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020209:Cranial Nerve Injuries / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D019233:Retreatment / Q000009:adverse effects; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014098:Toothache / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic