Claudia Hoffman
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 ATIENTS
often present to our office with pain, under the assumption—correctly or
incorrectly—that their discomfort is associated with a sinus infection.
As endodontists, we are supposed to be experts in diagnosing and relieving
oral pain. Because of the complex anatomy in the head and neck region,
conditions in this part of the body often cause referred pain that turns
up in and around a tooth.
One anatomical structure that can be challenging to the dentist
is the maxillary sinus. The average dimension of the maxillary sinus
is 40 x 26 x 28 mm (15 ml; Bailey 1998). The maxillary sinus is usually
in the premolar to molar region and in rare cases may extend to the canine.
The innervation is the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve, the
infraorbital nerve, and the anterior palatine nerve. The maxillary sinus
is in close proximity to the maxillary teeth.
A sinus condition is a very common cause of non-dental
tooth pain; therefore, it can result in unnecessary dental treatment. Acute
maxillary sinusitis (AMS) is a bacterial infection that needs to be correctly
diagnosed. Patients with a sinus infection usually present with a
chief complaint that involves dull aching pain that they are not able to
pinpoint. The pain is usually lessened when the patient is standing up
and worsens when the patient is lying down, so it may present as worse
at night. Proper diagnosis starts with a complete medical and dental
history. Non-invasive tests—such as radiographs, percussion, palpation,
and thermal testing—should be performed. Does the patient have chronic
allergies, a cold, or a history of sinus infections? Always ask patients
if they have flown on an airplane recently. A true sinus infection
usually increases in pain if the patient bends over and places the head
below the knees. In addition, extra-oral palpation over the sinus
area will usually cause discomfort.
If the diagnosis is AMS, the dentist should prescribe
analgesics, antihistamines, antibiotics, and nasal sprays. If it
is truly a sinus infection, the patient should feel significantly better
in twenty-four hours. If the pain recurs, the patient should be referred
to an ear, nose, and throat physician.
January - March 2005
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A sinus condition
is a very common cause of non-dental tooth pain; therefore, it can result
in unnecessary dental treatment.
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