Dental pain - A case of missed diagnosis

Dental pain, without doubt is one of the worst pains experienced by humans. The purpose of this article is to discuss investigations, diagnosis and management of acute dental pain with reference to case report of a patient. The patient suffered from acute pulpitis due to an apparently minor dental problem. Due to peculiar anatomy and innervation of dental pulp it is difficult for the patient and the dentist to identify the offended tooth in the initial stage of pulpitis. Different causes of dental pain are discussed. Classification and characteristics of dental pulp sensory fibers are also described briefly