Pathway to Diagnosis and Management of Toothaches: A General Dentist’s Perspective

This book is a concise guide to the clinical examination and diagnosis of dental pain. It is focused on determining the root cause of pain to prevent an erroneous finding based on inadequate information provided by the patient or flawed interpretation of diagnostic testing. Readers will find guidance on anamnesis, clinical exams, and assessment of pain specific components of the mouth as well as on the progression of pulp diseases including the normal pulp, the inflamed pulp, necrobiosis and aerodontalgia. Information is provided on fractured tooth as well as on diagnostic tests for dental pain. The last part of the book is dedicated to periodontal pain and discusses the normal and inflamed periodontium, radicular periodontitis, apical periodontitis and endo-perio diagnosis. This book will be a help for all dentist as the diagnosis of toothaches can be complicated and present pedagogues fail to address the intricacies involved in the etiology of clinical signs and symptoms.

Professor Ernest Lado is a general dentist who graduated Georgetown University College of Dentistry in 1967 and practiced for 13 years; ten of which were solo private practice. In 1981 he was appointed an instructor's position at the University of Florida, College of Dentistry, Department of Oral Medicine. He was promoted to assistant professor in 1983 and in 1988 was promoted to Associate Professor. Shortly after Prof. Lado was transferred to Oral Maxillofacial Surgery where he was assigned to the Student Oral Surgery Clinic where he oversaw students diagnose, extract, and refer patients to other specific specialties for definitive treatment. Over the past 55 years, Prof. Lado has assessed tens of thousands of toothaches and has witnessed a number of misdiagnosed "toothaches." He has also taught treatment planning, radiology, emergency preparedness for the dental office, and oversaw the urgent care clinic. Prof. Lado initiated the UF Sterilization Monitoring Service in 1989 and monitored in house as well as private practice sterilizers for longer than 10 years when the college disbanded the service to accommodate needed space for research.

Dr. Robert M. Caudle is a professor at the University of Florida. He has graduated from the Humboldt State University in 1981 and received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1988. Dr. Caudle's research examines the mechanisms of pain transmission and the molecular changes in the peripheral and central nervous systems that lead to chronic pain. He has published over 50 papers and is an expert in his field.