Examining the Clinical Characteristics of Trigeminal Neuralgia at a Dental Hospital: A Prospective Study

Background and objective Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a paroxysmal shock-like neuropathic pain condition that causes sudden, typically unilateral, severe, brief, stabbing, and recurrent sensations in the distribution of one or more trigeminal nerve branches. Although the clinical profile of TN patients has been generally established, there has never been a study on the condition among the population of Northeast India. Furthermore, there is scarce research describing the clinical features of TN in patients who visit a dental college. In light of this, we conducted this study to assess the clinical characteristics and parameters of TN in an Indian population. Methods Medical records of 60 patients with TN were reviewed prospectively for patient demographics, characteristics of the pain, and treatment modalities. Results Of the 60 patients, 55% were male, and 45% were female. The peak incidence was found in the age range of 55-64 years. Pain occurred equally on the right and left sides of the face. The maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve was the most frequently affected (40%) region, followed by mandibular division (35%) and the combined maxillary and mandibular division alone (25%). Most patients described their attacks as shock-like (78.33%) and of spontaneous onset (86.67%). Conclusion In the present study, TN affected males more than females and occurred most frequently in patients aged 55-64 years. A comparative analysis of the pain characteristics between different age groups and genders is useful for the management of these patients.