Glossopharyngeal Nerve as a Source of Orofacial Pain - Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges

Abstract

Chronic neuropathic orofacial pain along with physical suffering can cause emotional, psychological and social difficulties, which significantly affects the quality of life of patients. Pain in the area of glossopharyngeal nerve innervation, especially chronic neuropathic, is relatively rare, but is significant because of the great suffering it causes to sufferers. It can be life threatening, due to the cardiac arrhythmia, syncope or convulsions it can cause. Drug treatment is often of limited effectiveness and can be fraught with side effects. It is necessary to look for the etiology of the underlying disease, and if possible, to take adequate causal treatment. This review article discusses the etiology, clinical features, differential diagnosis, and treatment modalities of neuropathic pain in the area of glossopharyngeal nerve innervation.

Orofacial Pain and Dentistry Management: Guidelines for a More Comprehensive Evidence-Based Approach

“…Next to dental caries and periodontal diseases, musculoskeletal and neuropatholog ical diseases are the most common cause of orofacial pain, and it is important to define a boundary because these types of pain cannot be resolved by dental intervention [2,49].…”