title: Seven-year follow-up of patients diagnosed with atypical odontalgia: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the long-term prognosis of 46 previously examined atypical odontalgia (AO) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2002 and 2009, AO patients completed validated instruments measuring pain characteristics (pain frequency and intensity), physical functioning (Graded Chronic Pain Severity, GCPS) and emotional functioning (Symptoms Checklist, SCL-90R). The main outcome was global improvement. Baseline data on quantitative somatosensory testing and responsiveness to lidocaine injection were available for a subgroup of patients. Paired tests compared baseline and follow-up data, and logistic regression explored the possible prognostic value of baseline data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 37 patients (80%) were obtained. Thirteen patients (35%; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 20.2%-52.5%) rated their overall pain status as significantly improved, 22 (60%; 95% CI 42.1%-75.3%) as a little improved or unchanged, and two patients (5%; 95% CI 0.7%-18.2%) as worse. Five patients (14%; 95% CI 4.5%-28.8%) were pain-free, indicated by a characteristic pain intensity score of 0. Average pain intensity decreased (from 5.7 ± 2.0 to 3.5 ± 2.4; P < .001). Pain frequency (P < .001) and GCPS (P < .001) also decreased, whereas SCL-90R scores remained unchanged and 26 of the 37 patients reported ongoing treatment. Low baseline pain intensity was the only factor predictive of favorable outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A third of the AO patients improved considerably over time, but for many of the patients, AO was a persistent and treatment-resistant condition.
authors: Department of Endotontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Sweden. maria.pigg@mah.se
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Pigg
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Svensson
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Drangsholt
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: List
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014098:Toothache / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy