Management of chronic orofacial pain: today and tomorrow.

In the facial region, chronic pain syndromes include musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic disorders, vascular pain, and other chronic headaches. Therapy of chronic facial pain syndromes often relies on long-term psychotropic medications that cause severe side effects and offer nontotal pain relief. In this article, therapeutically relevant advances in science, which will change the approach to pain management, are reviewed. Understanding the mechanisms involved in chronic pain enables the clinician to skillfully apply this knowledge when selecting a therapy.