Primary Headaches

Dent Clin North Am. 2018 Oct;62(4):611-628. doi: 10.1016/j.cden.2018.06.006. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

Abstract

The primary headaches are composed of multiple entities that cause episodic and chronic head pain in the absence of an underlying pathologic process, disease, or traumatic injury. The most common of these are migraine, tension-type headache, and the trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. This article reviews the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and treatment of each to help in differential diagnosis. These headache types share many common signs and symptoms, thus a clear understanding of each helps prevent a delay in diagnosis and inappropriate or ineffective treatment. Many of these patients seek dental care because orofacial pain is a common presenting symptom.

Keywords: Cluster headache; Migraine; Primary headache; Tension-type headache; Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cluster Headache / diagnosis
  • Cluster Headache / etiology
  • Cluster Headache / therapy
  • Headache / diagnosis*
  • Headache / etiology
  • Headache / therapy
  • Humans
  • Migraine Disorders / diagnosis
  • Migraine Disorders / etiology
  • Migraine Disorders / therapy
  • Paroxysmal Hemicrania / diagnosis
  • Paroxysmal Hemicrania / etiology
  • Paroxysmal Hemicrania / therapy
  • Tension-Type Headache / diagnosis
  • Tension-Type Headache / etiology
  • Tension-Type Headache / therapy
  • Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias / diagnosis
  • Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias / etiology
  • Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias / therapy