Diagnostic Confidence and Awareness of Sinogenic and Otogenic Referred Odontalgia Among Dental Practitioners: A Stratified Cross-Sectional Analysis
Jayaprasad Anekar, R K Palguni, Jayalakshmi Baipadavu, M Thufailath, M SeemaAbstract
Background:
Referred odontalgia is tooth pain of non-odontogenic origin, often arising from maxillary sinusitis or otalgia via shared trigeminal pathways. Its diagnosis is challenging and may lead to unnecessary dental treatment.
Objective:
To assess awareness and understanding of referred odontalgia associated with sinusitis and otalgia among private dental practitioners in Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka, India.
Methods:
A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among 350 private dental practitioners (BDS/MDS), excluding Oral Medicine and Radiology specialists. Data were collected using a validated 23-item including self-administered questionnaire. Chi-square goodness-of-fit and cross-tabulation analyses were performed. Practitioners were grouped by clinical experience (>5 years vs ≤5 years).
Results:
Awareness was high: 96.5% had heard of referred odontalgia, 93.4% knew sinusitis could cause toothache, and 84.9% recognized ear infections as a cause. Eighteen of 23 questions showed statistical significance (
Conclusion:
Experienced practitioners exhibited superior clinical practices, highlighting early-career practitioners’ vulnerability to diagnostic errors.