Methods:A six month cross sectional survey utilizing interviewer administered questionnaire targeted at attendees of Dental out patient clinic, UCH Ibadan.
Results:Orofacial pain prevalence was 74.9%. Majority (92.3%) of respondents presented with odontogenic pain while 7.7% presented with nonodontogenic pain. Mean age for odontogenic pain 35.68 ± 16.44 female to male ratio 1.24:1.Mean age for nonodontogenic pain 36.58 ± 15.47 female to male ratio of 1.67 to 1, gender difference was statistically insignificant (x2 = 2.61; p= 0.11)
Pain was more severe among females but the difference was insignificant (p> 0.05), however, there was significant difference in the mean pain intensity between diagnostic categories of lesion.(p< 0.05)
Commonest odontogenic lesion was caries related (54.3% of all orofacial) and 58.9% of odontogenic pain respectively. The commonest nonodontogenic lesion were neoplasms and oral ulcers 1.7% each of orofacial.and 27.1% of nonodontogenic pain..
There was positive correlation between the three pain measuring scales for odontogenic lesions (VAS vs NWC, r=0.287; VAS vs MPQ, r = 0.538; MPQ vs NWC r = 0.299) and nonodontogenic lesions (VAS vs NWC, r =0.295; VAS vs MPQ, r =o.616; MPQ vs NWC r = 0.516).
The three diagnostic scales were however unable to distinguish between specific diagnosis of odontogenic and nonodontogenic lesions.
Conclusion:Pain measuring scales are useful tools for assessing difference between categeries of orofacial pain lesions. However, they are ineffective in distinguishing specific diagnosis. Pain measuring scales should therefore be used only as aid to diagnosis and not for definitive diagnosis..