Characteristics of an Orofacial Pain Population

Objectives: To evaluate the characteristics of an orofacial pain population. Methods: 200 consecutive new patients who presented to the Craniofacial Pain Center at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine from the period of May to September 2005 were included in the study. Standard medical/dental history and craniocervical examination was performed on all patients. Results: The mean age of the sample was 41 (±15) years (range 9 to 89) with a female predominance of 85% (170). Based on diagnostic subgroups, 84% (167) of subjects presented with myogenous pain affecting masticatory muscles, 61% (121) with arthrogenous pain, 53% (106) with myogenous pain affecting cervical muscles and 3% (6) with neuropathic pain. 34%(68) of subjects could not correlated the onset of pain to any particular event, whereas, 23 % (47) associated it with parafunction, 20% (40) to trauma, 14% (27) to dental procedures, 4%(7) to stress and 5 % (11) to other events. 60% (120) of subjects had received at least two treatment modalities prior to coming to the pain clinic. 73% (146) reported no history of psychological disorders, 12% (24) reported depression, 10% (20) anxiety and 5% (10) other psychological disorders. 18 % (36) of them were on antidepressants and 7% (13) were on anti-anxiety medications. Conclusions: In agreement with previous studies, this subject population is characterized by a marked female predominance and a pronounced myogenous diagnosis.