Abstract
The symptom of complaining of abnormal sensation in various parts of the body using curious expressions is called cenesthopathia. A case of oral cenesthopathia following tooth extraction is reported. The patient was a 63-year-old woman. In spite of having no objective abnormal findings of the oral cavity on extracting 78, she complained that the hollow of the alveolar bone after extracting teeth was swollen and had become red and that something felt as if it was moving, and that the nerve of the oral cavity was standing on end, and that the liquid around the nerve of the tooth seemed to flow into next tooth, etc. Though she visited many oral surgical departments and dental offices, the symptoms did not improve. When she treated, she had abnormal sensations. As she had strong anxiety because of the symptoms, she visited the psychiatric department after persuasion by her family despite her previous rejection of psychiatric treatment. Medical examination ruled out depression, schizophrenia, and dementia. Head CT scan showed no abnomalities. The value of TIQ of WAIS-R was 109. As she had no problems except abnomal sensation of the oral cavity, she was diagnosed as oral cenesthopathia. She was treated by oral adminstration of haloperidol and diazepam. Her symptoms improved after a few weeks, but some symptoms remained. This case emphasized the importance of liaison psychiatry in oral diseases and the cooperation of psychiatry and dentistry. The appearence of abnormal oral cavity sensations was discussed from the viewpoint of the characteristics of oral cavity and the special feature of dental treatment.
