Abstract
Somatoform disorders are psychological disorders characterized by complaints such as body pain and discomfort in the absence of organic abnormalities. In the dental field, pain of the tongue/teeth is frequently observed. At the time of the first visit to a dental clinic, patients with somatoform disorders cannot connect symptoms with stress, although dentists explain about their cause, and the disorder sometimes becomes intractable. We encountered a patient with various oral complaints who began to recover relatively early after psychiatric treatment. The patient’s understanding and awareness are necessary for early healing.
A 68-year-old female complained of pain due to contact between the lingual margin and teeth/gingiva, tightening pain in the mandibular teeth, and viscous fluid discharged from the left inferior gingiva. In the dental clinic, we performed minimal treatment, and referred her to the Department of Psychiatry soon after establishing a rapport with her. Liaison psychiatry services were provided, and she has mostly recovered from the disorder after drug administration and counseling.
