Brazilian Journal of Pain
https://brjp.org.br/article/doi/10.5935/2595-0118.20200035
Brazilian Journal of Pain
Case Report

The challenge of diagnosing atypical odontalgia. Case report

O desafio para o diagnóstico da odontalgia atípica. Relato de caso

André Hayato Saguchi; Adriana Lira Ortega; Ângela Toshie Araki

http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/2595-0118.20200035 BrJP, vol.3, n2, p.185-188, 2020
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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Atypical odontalgia is characterized by continuous pain that persists for more than three months in one or more teeth or in the socket after extraction, without apparent dental and neurological causes, with transient pain relief and worsening within a few days or even weeks in patients undergoing extensive dental treatment. These patients are at risk of going through unnecessary dental/surgical procedures, which would worsen their pain. This article aims to report a difficult case of atypical odontalgia diagnosis of a patient that underwent extensive dental treatment accompanied by severe pain.

CASE REPORT: A 57-year-old female patient with severe and excruciating pain in the right maxillary region of no identified source. After an endodontic retreatment on teeth 14 and 16, the pain worsened suggesting traumatic pericementitis or reaction to the intracanal drug used. Since the pain did not improve, a pulpectomy on 13 was performed. However, the pain increased significantly, and after an evaluation by volumetric computed tomography, a paraendodontic surgery was performed, but the pain irradiated to the ocular fundus and the maxillary region. The absence of neurological, ophthalmological, and otorhinolaryngological alterations led to the diagnosis of atypical odontalgia.

CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of atypical odontalgia is difficult, requiring a multidisciplinary approach listening to the patient’s complaint, and, in case of doubt, avoid any procedures not to worsen pain and turn it chronic.

Keywords

Diagnosis, Endodontics, Toothache

Resumo

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A odontalgia atípica caracteriza-se por dor contínua que persiste por mais de três meses em um ou mais dentes ou no alvéolo após extração, sem causas dentárias e neurológicas aparentes, com alívio transitório, e piora da dor dentro de poucos dias ou até semanas, em pacientes com amplo tratamento odontológico. A dificuldade para o diagnóstico pode levar a procedimentos odontológicos desnecessários e mutiladores, com piora e/ou cronificação da dor. Este artigo tem como objetivo relatar um caso de difícil diagnóstico de odontalgia atípica em paciente submetida a extenso tratamento odontológico.

RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo feminino, 57 anos, apresentava queixa de dor lancinante em região maxilar direita cuja origem não identificava. Após retratamento endodôntico dos dentes 14 e 16, houve piora da dor sugerindo pericementite traumática ou reação a fármaco intracanal. Como a dor não melhorou foi realizada uma pulpectomia no dente 13. Entretanto, a dor aumentou e após tomografia computadorizada volumétrica foi realizada cirurgia parendodôntica, porém a dor irradiou para fundo do olho direito e região maxilar. A ausência de alterações neurológicas, oftalmológicas e otorrinolaringológicas permitiram diagnosticar a odontalgia atípica.

CONCLUSÃO: O diagnóstico é difícil, sendo recomendada a abordagem multidisciplinar, valorizar a queixa do paciente e, em casos de dúvida, evitar quaisquer procedimentos para não piorar e cronificar a dor.

Palavras-chave

Diagnóstico, Endodontia, Odontalgia

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Submitted date:
11/21/2019

Accepted date:
03/25/2020

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