抄録
Small number of patients experiencing pain associated with the organic problem of pericoronitis of third molars have been found to exhibit many characteristics of nonorganic (psychogenic) pain. The object of this study was to evaluate whether the characteristics of pain from pericoronitis of third molars should have an “organic” or “nonorganic” pain based on the intensity and nature of the pain as well as psychosocial factors. The determination was made using an organic vs nonorganic pain classification checklist developed by this department. The results revealed that many patients experiencing pain associated with pericoronitis of the third molars exhibited characteristics of organic pain. It was also found that some patients, whose complaints had many nonorganic pain characteristics, exhibited organic pain characteristics in at least one states with pain.
It was concluded that when pain in an organic disease is verbally expressed, even if the complaint has the characteristics of nonorganic pain, or if the patient has associated psychosocial factors, it should not be immediately diagnosed as a psychogenic manifestation.
Accurate evaluation of the patient's complaint and careful examination of the organic lesion are important.
