Differential diagnosis of jaw pain in the elderly.

While many diseases are marked by pain in the mandible or maxilla, a number of these conditions appear to be more prevalent in people 65 years and older. People in this age group often have a number of medical problems and take a variety of medications, so clear-cut diagnosis of jaw pain can be difficult. Memory deficits or concomitant somatic complaints can further complicate the diagnosis. This article presents a differential for jaw pain in the elderly and reports on a pertinent case.