Frequency of Unnecessary Tooth Extraction in Patients with Trigeminal Neuralgia

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of unnecessary tooth extraction in patients with trigeminal neuralgia. Methods: Observational Cross -sectional study. Study Duration: 1st Jan, 2019 -31st DEC, 2019. All patients of TGN were interviewed for tooth extraction as remedy of their pain before the final diagnosis. They were also asked about number of teeth extracted in range of minimum to maximum. Then all data was shifted to SPSS and analyzed in terms of frequency.Results: 63/141 (44%) of patients with trigeminal neuralgia had undergone unnecessary teeth extraction before exact diagnosis of disease.Conclusions: Our study has shown that a high percentage of patients that were treated for idiopathic TGN initially consulted their local dentist and received dental therapy first. This pattern has long been known, was first systematically assessed decades ago, and surprisingly has not changed since. Dentists should work in collaboration with neurologists to evaluate orofacial pain syndrome patients for possible idiopathic TGN. This would result in early diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia and its proper management and prevention of unnecessary tooth extraction.

Keywords: tooth extraction, unnecessary, trigeminal neuralgia, orofacial pain