Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41164746›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)2025

Case Report: A case of toothache of cardiac origin with a long-term clinical course.

Chizuko Maeda, Takayuki Suga, Kiyotoshi Oishi, Akira Toyofuku

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Chizuko MaedaDepartment of Psychosomatic Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Takayuki SugaDepartment of Psychosomatic Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Kiyotoshi OishiDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Akira ToyofukuDepartment of Psychosomatic Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Toothache of cardiac origin is a rare but significant form of referred pain originating from cardiac pathology such as angina pectoris. Although jaw and throat discomfort are known referred pain sites, toothache alone is an uncommon presentation. Misdiagnosis often leads to unnecessary dental interventions and delays in appropriate cardiac treatment, highlighting the need for greater awareness among both dentists and internists. Case presentation: A 76-year-old woman presented with persistent pain in the gingiva around teeth #33 and #34, accompanied by sharp chest discomfort which would subside in about 5-6 min. Extensive dental examinations, including extractions, failed to resolve her symptoms. Initial cardiac evaluations-electrocardiogram, Holter monitoring, echocardiography, and chest computed tomography-were unremarkable. Consequently, she was diagnosed with atypical odontalgia and prescribed antidepressants, but these proved ineffective. However, over several months, the toothache worsened upon exertion, accompanied by chest pain unresponsive to standard analgesics. A specialized cardiac imaging center finally detected severe stenosis (90%-99%) of the left anterior descending artery and Right Coronary Artery, as well as a left ventricular thrombus. Coronary angiography confirmed unstable angina, and the patient underwent a Dor procedure to remove the thrombus alongside coronary artery bypass grafting. Following surgery, her toothache and chest pain completely resolved. Conclusion: This case features a protracted course from symptom onset to definitive treatment. In older patients reporting persistent tooth or gingival pain with intermittent chest discomfort-especially when symptoms are exertional and dental findings are negative-clinicians should consider a cardiac origin and expedite cardiologic imaging to avert hazardous delays. Systematic accumulation of cases and cross-disciplinary research are essential to establish actionable diagnostic guidance and move beyond anecdotal evidence.

Indexed as

angina pectorisatypical odontalgiareferred craniofacial paintoothache differential diagnosistoothache of cardiac origin

Identifiers

PMID41164746
PMCPMC12558965

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.