Proper diagnosis of oral pain is a skill that all dentist take very seri¬ously. Referred pain is an interesting phenomenon that can make accurate diagnosis very challenging. Because of the way that nerves are arranged in the head and neck, and the way our brains interpret the signals sent along these nerves, the place that we fell pain may not be where the pain is really coming from.

There are several common examples of referred pain involving the teeth and jaws. It is not usual for a diseased lower molar tooth to cause pain that feels exactly like an ear-ache. It is very common for these patients to go to their medical doctor only to find out that the ear is fine. Doctors will send their patients to their dentist and it is usually discovered that a bad lower tooth was the cause of pain referred to the ear. At this time of year, many people are having sinus problems. Si¬nusitis often causes referred pain to the upper teeth. This pain feels exactly like a toothache even though the teeth are prefectly healthy.

It can be hard to accept that the pain we feel in one place is caused by a problem in another place. But, referred pain is a fairly common occurance. For dentists, diagnosis and explaining the phenomenon is a daily challenge.

Presented in the interest of promoting a better dental health environment from the office of: Frank Soltiz, DDS 13367 Broadway Alden, New York 14004 937-7812