Addressing headaches in orofacial pain
Better understanding how headaches present in patients with orofacial pain could improve patient care as well as reduce misdiagnoses and unnecessary dental treatment.
In a narrative review published in The Journal of the American Dental Association, investigators used international classifications of headache disorders and orofacial pain, management guidelines from the European Academy of Neurology and data from a systematic review and observational studies to develop a clinical guide clinicians can utilize when differentiating primary and secondary headaches in patients with orofacial pain from those with orofacial conditions resembling headache disorders.
Among the recommendations, the investigators cited the need for comprehensive, interdisciplinary collaboration to most effectively manage patients with headache disorders and comorbid temporomandibular disorders as a result of the overlap observed among the conditions. They also stressed that dentists often play a critical role in ensuring that patients with more serious symptoms are referred to neurologists or other specialists.
The investigators emphasized that acknowledging the intersection of headache disorders, orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders could help clinicians make more accurate diagnoses and select the most appropriate care strategies.
Read more: JADA
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