The evaluation of facial pain begins with a medical history and physical examination.

Physical findings in someone with facial pain may include:

• Facial tenderness
• Facial skin redness
• Neck swelling
• Tongue swelling
• Gum swelling

Testing is usually required to evaluate persistent facial pain.

Tests that may be used to evaluate facial pain include:

• Complete blood count
• Dental x-rays
• Throat culture
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• MRI scan of the brain
• MRI scan of the face
• Culture of sinus discharge
• Sinus x-rays
• CT scan of the sinuses

For more information:

• Facial injury evaluation
• Facial contusion evaluation
• Sinusitis evaluation
• Trigeminal neuralgia evaluation
• Dental infection evaluation
• Temporal arteritis evaluation
• TMJ syndrome evaluation