In simple words: Atypical facial pain is a long-lasting pain in your face that doesn't have a clear cause. It can feel like burning, aching, or cramping, and it's usually on one side of your face.It's different from other facial pain conditions because it's constant and not triggered by things like touching your face or chewing. Doctors often have to rule out other problems before diagnosing atypical facial pain.

Atypical facial pain (AFP), also known as persistent idiopathic facial pain (PIFP), is a chronic condition characterized by constant or near-constant pain in the face, often described as burning, aching, or cramping.The pain is typically localized to one side of the face but can spread to the neck or scalp. Unlike trigeminal neuralgia, AFP pain is not triggered by specific stimuli and doesn't involve the distinct, sharp, electric shock-like pains. There is no known physical or structural cause for AFP, making diagnosis challenging. It differs from Type I or classical trigeminal neuralgia (TN) which has periods of remission and is often triggered by specific actions.Type II trigeminal neuralgia shares similarities with AFP but includes some intense, episodic pains.

Example 1: A 45-year-old female presents with persistent, burning pain on the left side of her face for the past six months. The pain is constant but fluctuates in intensity.No triggers have been identified, and neurological examination is normal.Imaging studies reveal no abnormalities. After excluding other conditions, a diagnosis of atypical facial pain is made., A 60-year-old male experiences constant aching pain in his right cheek and jaw area. The pain started a year ago and has gradually worsened. He has undergone multiple dental procedures with no relief. Neurological examination and imaging are unremarkable. A diagnosis of atypical facial pain is considered after other causes are excluded., A 30-year-old female reports persistent facial pain, accompanied by tingling and numbness, for over a year.The pain is primarily on the right side of her face and affects her cheek, jaw, and temple.She also reports symptoms of anxiety and depression. After extensive investigations and ruling out other causes, she is diagnosed with atypical facial pain.

Documentation should include a detailed description of the pain characteristics (location, quality, intensity, duration, and constancy), associated symptoms, a complete medical, dental, and mental health history, results of physical and neurological examinations, and results of any imaging or other diagnostic tests performed to exclude other causes of facial pain.

** Atypical facial pain is a diagnosis of exclusion and requires a thorough evaluation to rule out other causes. Treatment focuses on managing pain and improving the patient's quality of life. Because there is no known cure, treatments like medications, therapy, and alternative treatments like acupuncture are used to manage symptoms.