Trigeminal Neuralgia Support Group

Case Reviews in Pain

Toothache or Trigeminal Neuralgia: Treatment Dilemmas

Christopher J. Spencer, John K. Neubert, Henry Gremillion, Joanna M. Zakrzewska,

and Richard Ohrbach

Long-term outcomes of Gamma Knife radiosurgery for classic trigeminal neuralgia: implications of treatment and critical review of the literature

urnal of Neurosurgery

November 2009 Volume 27

Microvascular decompression in patients with isolated maxillary division trigeminal neuralgia, with particular attention to venous pathology

Raymond F. Sekula Jr., M.D., Andrew M. Frederickson, B.S., Peter J. Jannetta, M.D., Sanjay Bhatia, M.D., Matthew R. Quigley, M.D., and Khaled M. Abdel Aziz, M.D.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), also called tic douloureux, is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal or 5th cranial nerve, one of the largest nerves in the head.  The disorder causes extreme, sporadic, sudden burning or shock-like face pain that lasts anywhere from a few seconds to as long as 2 minutes per episode.  These attacks can occur in quick succession. The intensity of pain can be physically and mentally incapacitating.

The trigeminal nerve is one of 12 pairs of cranial nerves that originate at the base of the brain.  The nerve has three branches that conduct sensations from the upper, middle, and lower portions of the face, as well as the oral cavity, to the brain.  The ophthalmic, or upper, branch supplies sensation to most of the scalp, forehead, and front of the head.  The maxillary, or middle, branch passes through the cheek, upper jaw, top lip, teeth and gums, and to the side of the nose.  The nerve’s mandibular, or lower, branch passes through the lower jaw, teeth, gums, and bottom lip.  More than one nerve branch can be affected by the disorder.

At Cyberknife of Long Island, we treat all forms of cancer, including brain, spine, lung, prostate, head and neck, skin and rectal tumors.  We also treat benign conditions including painful Trigeminal Neuralgia in only one pain-free visit.  We invite you to one of our centers to see how we can make a difference.  For other radiation therapy options, please visit our other site North Shore Radiation Therapy.

Call 631-427-2273 for an Immediate CyberKnife Consultation

Because the CyberKnife is non-invasive radiation therapy, it has significantly fewer complications than traditional open surgery and can often achieve comparable or better outcomes.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a nerve disorder that causes a disruption in the trigeminal nerve in the face that may result in excruciating facial pain and tooth pain. Tooth pain can have other causes and should be evaluated by a dentist.