Ultima modifica 2 March 2025
Wisdom Tooth: A Silent Culprit of Chronic Neck Pain
When it comes to chronic pain, the cause can be difficult to pinpoint. Often, the source of the pain can be far from the area where the discomfort is felt. A striking example of this phenomenon involves the wisdom tooth, the third molar that often causes problems due to lack of space to erupt properly.
The Wisdom Tooth: A Silent Culprit
In a study published in the journal “Case Reports in Medicine”, researchers examined the case of a 50-year-old man who suffered from chronic neck pain that was resistant to therapy. Surprisingly, the cause of his pain was not in the neck, but originated in the dental and jaw area, specifically in the wisdom teeth with space problems and partially impacted.
Case Study: Neck Pain and Wisdom Teeth
The wisdom tooth, or third molar, can become impacted or semi-impacted due to lack of space in the mandible or maxilla. This can lead to the formation of bacterial plaque, which promotes the onset of localized inflammation such as gingivitis, pericoronitis and caries. However, an impacted and/or chronically inflamed wisdom tooth may be asymptomatic locally, but this does not mean that it cannot give rise to pathologies. There can be chronic inflammatory processes and silent pathologies in the teeth that influence systemic health.
The Role of the Trigeminal Nerve in Neck Pain
In the case of the study, the dental and maxillary area corresponding to the tooth was not painful; however, neck pain developed through the spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve, which extends into the cervical area.
Surgical Therapy and Pain Relief
Surgical therapy of the wisdom teeth and subsequent drug treatment of the tooth extraction sites provided permanent pain relief.
Final Considerations: The Wisdom Tooth and Chronic Pain
This case emphasizes the importance of considering all possible causes of chronic pain, even when the source seems to be far from the area of pain. In particular, in the case of neck pain that is resistant to therapy, it may be useful to look for pathologies in the dental/jaw area, which could allow for causal therapy. The wisdom tooth can be a silent culprit of chronic pain. If you suffer from neck pain or pain in other parts of the body that does not respond to therapy, it may be useful to discuss with your dentist or doctor the possibility that an impacted or partially impacted wisdom tooth may be the cause.
From “Neck Pain Caused by Impacted Wisdom Teeth: A Case Report and New Pathophysiological Insights” Link to the article
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