Phantom Tooth Pain: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Abstract

Diagnosis is essentially the appraisal of the nature of a disease, based on the study of signs and symptoms. Patients with chronic oral or facial pain often present a diagnostic challenge to the practitioner. This paper is on the diagnosis and management of a case of chronic pain in the maxillary anterior region. The final diagnosis was made as phantom tooth pain. This case report illustrates the importance of having a thorough knowledge of both odontogenic and nonodontogenic causes of orofacial pain and stresses the need for careful diagnosis before rendering any treatment.