Screening of medical and dental history of patients with chronic orofacial pain and discomfort using a questionnaire.

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the medical and dental history of 39 consecutive patients with chronic orofacial pain and discomfort in order to revise an existent questionnaire, intended for clinical use. Data were collected from record sheets and filled in questionnaires. The patients had previously to a great extent consulted or been treated by other medical as well as dental professionals for their symptoms. Symptoms and course of disease had much in common with those reported in recent studies on orofacial pain and discomfort. The results show some tendencies not previously reported. Many patients, also those who considered their pain as continuous had experienced clearly identified situations that relieved or intensified their symptoms. So had antibiotics given as much relief from pain and disturbances as had analgesics or NSAID's. This makes infectious focuses to be suspected in these cases. Some patients had experienced intensification of symptoms in connection with visits to the dentist, irrespective of the treatment given. Onset of symptoms was by nearly half of the patients connected with previous dental treatment. Eighteen patients had experienced intensification of symptoms in situations connected with exposure to electromagnetic fields. The importance of a careful medicodental history for diagnostic procedures and therapeutic measures is discussed, and also the role of TMD symptoms secondary to various somatic and psychological factors.