11.6 Headache attributed to disorder of the teethHartmut Gobel2018-01-31T13:47:59+00:00

Description:

Headache caused by a disorder involving the teeth.

Diagnostic criteria:

1. Any headache fulfilling criterion C
2. Clinical and/or imaging evidence of a disorder or lesion of one or more teeth, known to be able to cause headache
3. Evidence of causation demonstrated by at least two of the following:
   1. headache has developed in temporal relation to the onset of the disorder or appearance of the lesion
   2. either or both of the following:
      • a) headache has significantly worsened in parallel with worsening or progression of the disorder or lesion
      • b) headache has significantly improved or resolved in parallel with improvement in or resolution of the disorder or lesion
   3. headache is exacerbated by palpation, probing or pressure applied to the affected tooth or teeth
   4. in the case of a unilateral disorder or lesion, headache is localized and ipsilateral to it
4. Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.

Comment:

Disorders of the teeth usually cause toothache and/or facial pain, but may refer pain to the head. The most common causes of 11.6 Headache attributed to disorder of the teeth are an endodontic or periodontal infection or abscess, or traumatic irritation such as pericoronitis around a partially-erupted lower wisdom tooth.