THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE POSITION OF THE IMPACTED THIRD MOLAR TOOTH ON OROFACIAL REFERRED PAIN PATTERNS
Tichvy Tammama (a*), Muhamad Rafi Naufal (a), Rasmi Rikmasari (b), Endang Sjamsudin (b)

a) Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani
Jl. Terusan Jend. Sudirman, Cimahi, Jawa Barat, 40525, Indonesia
*tichvy[at]yahoo.com
b) Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Jawa Barat, 45363, Indonesia

Abstract

Third molars are the most common teeth to be impacted because they are the last in the eruption sequence. Teeth can be impacted in various positions, and can cause various clinical consequences, one of which is pain in the orofacial area, however the mechanism and pattern of referred pain are not clearly known. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between the position of impacted third molars and the pattern of orofacial referred pain. This research is an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional approach on 38 respondents at RSD Gunung Jati, with complaint of third molar impaction accompanied by orofacial pain. The position of impaction is determined based on the panoramic image- and the pattern of orofacial pain divided into several areas on the face and head. The results showed that the pattern of referred pain from upper and lower impacted third molars, occurred most frequently in the ear, at 81%. The tooth that causes the most pain is the upper third molar at 83.3%, mainly in position B at 86.7%. The current general guideline about the mechanism of referred pain used is to follow the dermatome. The upper and lower third molars are innervated by cranial nerves V, however in this study the referred pain produced mainly occurred in the ear region. This is thought to be caused by a branch of the auriculotemporal nerve that causes secondary ear pain.

Keywords: Impacted- Third Molar- Position- Orofacial- Referred Pain

Topic: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery