Orofacial pain in dementia patients

is article presents a comprehensive review of the literature on the diagnosis of pain in the orofacial region of patients su ering from a cognitive impairment or a dementia. is review was based on a literature search yielding 74 papers most of which dealt with the assessment of pain in general in nonverbal individuals, for which several observational tools have been developed. Unfortunately, none of these tools have been designed for the speci c assessment of orofacial or dental pain. us, none of them can be recommended for use in the dental setting. ere is hardly any information available in the literature on how to assess orofacial and/or dental pain in patients with a cognitive impairment or a dementia. Given the expected increase in the incidence of dementia over the upcoming decades, it is of the utmost importance that dentists can use well-tested tools that can help them in the diagnosis of orofacial and dental pain in this vulnerable patient population. Such a tool should incorporate speci c orofacial/dental pain indicators, such as the patient holding/rubbing the painful orofacial area, limiting his/her mandibular movements, modifying his/her oral behavior, and being uncooperative/resistant to oral care. is chapter has been published as: Lobbezoo F., Weijenberg R.A., Scherder E.J. – Topical review: orofacial pain in dementia patients. A diagnostic challenge. J.Orofac.Pain. 25(1); 6–14, 2011. 52 • chapter 3 – orofacial pain in dementia patients