Atypical Facial Pain or Persistent, Idiopathic Facial Pain

Where there is chronic pain in the facial area for which no specific organic cause can be found, the so-called ‘diagnosis by exclusion’ for this would be persistent, idiopathic facial pain. A few years ago, this used to be described as atypical facial pain. But the more modern term is actually more accurate because it describes the pain as chronic and as having no recognisable cause. Persistent Idiopathic Facial Pain and Persistent Idiopathic Toothache are neurological disorders requiring completely different treatment from CMD.

The diagnosis and treatment should be handled by a neurologist or pain specialist and shouldn’t be subsumed under CMD treatment.