Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition that impacts numerous people every year. It often feels like pain that appears in the face that feels like an electrical shock. TN is a chronic condition rooted in the trigeminal nerve that delivers sensations from the face to the brain. This condition can cause significant pain with even a light touch and may be mistaken for a toothache. A trip to Alondra Dental Associates can help determine the actual source of your pain.
Is It A Tooth Ache Or Trigeminal Neuralgia?
The similarity between Trigeminal Neuralgia and tooth pain can make getting a confirmed diagnosis tricky. It’s common for TN pain to manifest while chewing or talking. However, it can also occur while shaving or touching your face or cheek. Trigeminal Neuralgia is often caused by a blood vessel pressing against the trigeminal nerve, creating a condition known as vascular compression. The pulsing of this blood vessel against the nerve erodes myelin, the insulation layer that covers the nerve.
The following symptoms are typical examples of what sufferers experience:
- Flare-Ups of pain that occurs suddenly and only impact one side of the face. These painful sensations may only last a few seconds or persist for several minutes or hours.
- Pain that is stabbing, sharp, or even feels electrical in nature.
- “Tooth pain” that doesn’t cause you to wake or does so only rarely.
- Pain that manifests in any part of the face, including the lower jaw, cheek, or forehead.
- “Tooth pain” occurs infrequently and inconsistently. TN pain can disappear for years, only to suddenly flare up again.
Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia has been successfully achieved with medication. Tegretol is the most commonly prescribed painkiller for TN, though others have also been found to work. In cases where the symptoms of TN become severe, you may be directed to an oral surgeon. A procedure known as MVD, or Microvascular Decompression, is successful for many TN patients.
Several treatment options are available for treating trigeminal neuralgia. One common approach is a nerve block achieved by burning the nerves responsible, interrupting pain signals, and causing numbness in the treatment area. Compression therapies are also available that compress the nerve to relieve the symptoms. Radiosurgery and gamma-knife surgeries have also been used successfully. While largely successful, these treatments are not always permanent, and TN may reappear later.
Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatment With Alondra Dental Associates
Alondra Dental Associates has a team of dental experts who can assist in treating Trigeminal Neuralgia. The first step in managing this condition is contacting our facility and setting up a consultation visit. During this visit, your dental and medical history will be discussed, your symptoms assessed, and a comprehensive treatment plan developed to ease your condition. You can contact our team at (562) 317-4917 or visit us online to schedule an appointment with Dr. Alireza Movassaghi. Trigeminal neuralgia doesn’t have to be a lifelong sentence to intermittent facial pain; call today to start finding relief.