Myofascial pain with referral from the anterior digastric muscle mimicking a toothache in the mandibular anterior teeth: a case report

Background: Non-odontogenic toothaches often present as a diagnostic dilemma to clinicians. Myofascial pain with referral from the trigger points in the masticatory muscles are one of the common causes of non-odontogenic toothaches. However, there are limited reports of myofascial pain from the anterior digastric muscle referring pain to the mandibular anterior teeth and mimicking odontogenic pain. Case presentation: A case of non-odontogenic toothache in the mandibular anterior teeth due to myofascial pain with referral from trigger points in the anterior digastric muscle is presented. The patient had significant relief with a trigger point injection of the anterior digastric muscle. Amitriptyline 10 mg once daily was prescribed for 1 month. In addition, she was advised home care instructions to control predisposing, perpetuating, and precipitating factors, and given home care exercises, a hard joint stabilization splint, physiotherapy, and postural re-education. Conclusion: Non-odontogenic toothaches may be multifactorial. The case presented emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive evaluation to differentiate odontogenic pain from non-odontogenic pain. Irreversible dental procedures should be instituted after an accurate diagnosis and multidisciplinary management may be required in complex cases. Keywords: anterior digastric muscle, myofascial pain, pain, temporomandibular disorder, trigger point