Idiopathic facial pain: pathophysiological mechanisms and current therapeutic strategies

Auteurs:

Soumaya Zaalouni, Mehdi Khemiss,  Asma Riahi, Nouha Dammak , Mohamed Ben Khelifa.

Abstract

 Idiopathic facial pain is a poorly understood syndrome that remains ill-defined, difficult to assess, and challenging to treat. In the absence of an identifiable organic cause, it is often inadequately characterized, complicating both diagnosis and management. This chronic and frequently debilitating pain leads many patients to consult multiple healthcare providers, a situation further exacerbated by distinct psychological profiles, an urgent demand for relief, and the frequent inability of clinicians to provide effective solutions. The clinical spectrum includes several entities, such as burning mouth syndrome, persistent idiopathic facial pain, and atypical odontalgia. These pain conditions may be localized in oral mucosa or in teeth. Diagnosis is primarily based on the exclusion of dental, otorhinolaryngological, and neurological causes. A thorough patient history and meticulous clinical examination are essential for pain characterization. Therapeutic approaches include psychological support, pharmacological treatments (antiepileptics and antidepressants), and complementary interventions like laser therapy.

This review aimed to explore the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and current therapeutic strategies, with the goal of optimizing patient care through more targeted and effective treatment modalities.

Key words: Orofacial pain, Atypical odontalgia, Persistent idiopathic facial pain, Stomatodynia.

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