Abstract

  The aim of this review is to offer dentists a summary of the recent and important progress being made in the neurophysiological and psychological bases of orofacial pain. In this paper, 1) the function of nociceptive primary neurons with special reference to the polymodal receptor, 2) long-lasting effects of the neuropeptides released from the central terminals of nociceptive afferents on the dorsal horn or trigeminal caudal neurons, 3) the ascending nociceptive tracts : the spinothalamic and spinoreticular tract, 4) descending pain-control systems, 5) the central mechanism of chronic pain, are briefly reviewed. The author hopes that this guidebook of the recent neurophysiological research will result in progress of clinical pain control in dentistry and help readers develop a better understanding of pain mechanisms.