title: Differential diagnosis for orofacial pain, including sinusitis, TMD, trigeminal neuralgia.
abstract: Correct diagnosis is the key to managing facial pain of non-dental origin. Acute and chronic facial pain must be differentiated and it is widely accepted that chronic pain refers to pain of 3 months or greater duration. Differentiating the many causes of facial pain can be difficult for busy practitioners, but a logical approach can be beneficial and lead to more rapid diagnoses with effective management. Confirming a diagnosis involves a process of history-taking, clinical examination, appropriate investigations and, at times, response to various therapies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although primary care clinicians would not be expected to diagnose rare pain conditions, such as trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias, they should be able to assess the presenting pain complaint to such an extent that, if required, an appropriate referral to secondary or tertiary care can be expedited. The underlying causes of pain of non-dental origin can be complex and management of pain often requires a multidisciplinary approach.
authors: Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, Sheffield S10 2ZS.
authors: Anne M
authors: AM
authors: Hegarty
authors: Joanna M
authors: JM
authors: Zakrzewska
mesh_terms: D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D010808:Physical Examination; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D051303:Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias / Q000175:diagnosis; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis*