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Recent Insights into Brainstem Mechanisms Underlying Craniofacial Pain
Author(s) -
Sessle Barry J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1930-7837
pISSN - 0022-0337
DOI - 10.1002/j.0022-0337.2002.66.1.tb03504.x
Subject(s) - brainstem , craniofacial , neuroscience , nociception , face (sociological concept) , psychology , neuroplasticity , medicine , sociology , receptor , psychiatry , social science
This article briefly highlights some of the recent advances in knowledge of the neural processes underlying pain in the face and mouth. It particularly focuses on those mechanisms operating in the brainstem that are involved in the transmission and modulation of nociceptive signals and that reveal a remarkable degree of plasticity following injury or inflammation of craniofacial tissues. Insights into these processes hold promise of the development of new or improved therapeutic procedures for the relief of pain.