Although young children present at the dentist with pain resulting from an injured tooth, frequently, the tooth pain is caused by other factors. The nature of the trigeminal nerve as innervation for many craniofacial structures results in some young children perceiving non-dental pain in the mouth.

Diagnosing the origin of oral pain and swelling in young children should be guided by the following principles:

• Rule out dental etiology by conducting a thorough examination and taking X-rays, if possible.
• Keep in mind that young children are far more likely to have a non-dental infection than a dental one. If you have ruled out dental caries, consider other childhood infections and illnesses, using a good health history.
• If warranted, refer the child to a medical professional for evaluation.

Some non-dental causes of oral pain are presented next.

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