Persistent dento-alveolar pain disorder (PDAP): Working towards a better understanding.

New terminology, persistent dento-alveolar pain disorder (PDAP), and diagnostic criteria have been put forward to address the shortcomings of existing nomenclature, which are associated with unclear criteria. Arriving at an accurate diagnosis of PDAP is based on excluding other possible aetiologies, and may involve different care providers. Synthesis of published data suggests that PDAP has a frequency of occurrence following root canal therapy of around 1.6%. The putative risk factors involved in PDAP are largely unknown, but seem to be similar to those being identified with other post-surgical chronic pain disorders. The underlying mechanisms involved in the development of and/or perpetuating PDAP are unknown and the approach to treatment remains empiric in nature.