Persistent Idiopathic Dentoalveolar Pain in a Patient With Implant Placement: A Case Report

TL;DR

This case report describes a 62-year-old man with persistent dental pain after an implant, which improved with nortriptyline treatment.

Contribution

The study highlights nortriptyline as a potential treatment for persistent idiopathic dentoalveolar pain following dental implants.

Findings

A 62-year-old male patient experienced chronic pain after a dental implant at position #11 with no identifiable cause.

Nortriptyline 10 mg administered at bedtime led to improvement in the patient's chronic pain.

Abstract

Persistent idiopathic dentoalveolar pain (PIDAP) is a type of disease that, despite affecting thousands of people globally, negatively impacts patients' quality of life because of its unknown cause. Notably, the disease has a high prevalence rate and is primarily prone to middle-aged and senior individuals. Efforts have been made to gain the understanding needed for the accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment of PIDAP cases. This case report discusses the challenges faced in diagnosing and managing PIDAP after dental implants.

The present study involved the case of a 62-year-old male patient, previously operated on for an implant at position #11, who suffered from chronic pain but no specific cause could be identified. We used an evaluation strategy to gain insights into the patient’s illness, including antibiotic treatment, crown replacement, and continued pain. We prescribed nortriptyline 10 mg, and there was an improvement. This finding suggests that nortriptyline 10 mg QHS eliminates chronic pain.

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