What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Headache due to Disorder of the Teeth

What is Headache Attributed to Disorder of the Teeth? (Definition/Background Information)

• Headache Attributed to Disorder of the Teeth is a headache disorder that occurs secondary to any dental disorder involving the tooth/teeth. These may include a broad range of disorders such as:
  • Endodontic or periodontal infections
  • Endodontic or periodontal abscesses
  • Traumatic irritation of dental tissue, such as pericoronitis, which involves the wisdom tooth
• When a single tooth or multiple teeth are affected, the condition can cause tooth pain along-with facial pain around the region. However, a one-sided headache is also not uncommon, depending on what tooth is involved
• A progression of the tooth disorder in the absence of adequate treatment can worsen the headache. The tooth condition may be aggravated on applying pressure to the region (such as while chewing/biting). The headache is known to improve and regress on undertaking suitable management of the underlying disorder

The criteria for diagnosis of Headache Attributed to Disorder of the Teeth as outlined by the International Headache Society (IHS) is given below:

• Clinical and/or imaging evidence of a disorder or lesion of one or more teeth, known to be able to cause headache
• Any headache fulfilling the criterion below:

Evidence of causation demonstrated by any of the following:

• Headache has developed in temporal relation to the onset of the disorder or appearance of the lesion
• Either or both of the following:
  • Headache has significantly worsened in parallel with worsening or progression of the disorder or lesion
  • Headache has significantly improved or resolved in parallel with improvement in or resolution of the disorder or lesion
• Headache is exacerbated by palpation, probing or pressure applied to the affected tooth or teeth
• In the case of a unilateral disorder or lesion, headache is localized and ipsilateral to it

Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.

(Source: International Headache Society Classification ICHD-3, London, United Kingdom)