Defining orofacial pain
Orofacial Pain, as the name suggests is any pain of the Head, Face, Mouth and
Neck region. Facial Pain is a complaint that around the world affects millions of
people on a daily basis. It constitutes symptom that occurs from a large number
of disorders and diseases that result in a chronic sensation of discomfort or pain
felt in the region of the face, mouth, nose, ears, eyes, neck, and head.
The Orofacial region exists to perform many functions vital to human life
support. The region performs functions such as breathing and smell, taste, sight,
mastication (eating and chewing), swallowing, and communication (verbal and
non-verbal).
Therefore it is the most anatomically complex of all body systems,
and has an enormous level of brain function and nerve supply dedicated to its
daily operation. In fact the number of nerve endings found in the head and facial
consisting of a significant level of concern and worry.