Which of the following can cause pain that mimics pulpitis?

Correct answer: A. Angina pectoris

• A. Angina pectoris can cause referred pain to the mandible, lower left teeth, and jaw, closely mimicking dental pulpitis. This is due to shared cardiac and dental afferent pain pathways. Clinically, the pain is not reproducible with percussion or cold tests. ✓
• B. Atypical facial pain (persistent idiopathic facial pain) is dull and poorly localized — it may persist after dental treatment but does not specifically mimic pulpitis.
• C. Herpes zoster can cause prodromal burning pain along a dermatome before vesicles appear, which may mimic dental pain — but the question specifically pairs it against angina, which is the classic 'pulpitis mimic' taught on boards.
• D. Trigeminal neuralgia presents as sharp, electric shock-like pain triggered by light touch, not aching lingering pain typical of pulpitis.