The endodontist's role in the management of chronic orofacial pain.

The management of patients with chronic orofacial pain is a challenge which faces the dental profession daily. These cases can easily be misdiagnosed, overtreated or undertreated. There is a very real danger also of classifying patients as suffering from a psychological condition when in fact they are suffering from organic disease. A series of cases illustrating these problems are presented in order to highlight the pitfalls and to suggest ways to overcome them. Diagnosis is central to all of these cases. Guidelines for the management of these patients are presented.