OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the association between optimism and self-reported facial pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were obtained for 5,696 subjects born in 1966 in Northern Finland and included in the study of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort. Data on facial pain were collected using a questionnaire. Optimism was measured using the revised version of the Life Orientation Test. RESULTS: The data showed that optimism was inversely associated with facial pain. Associations were found only among non-depressive subjects. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that optimism is an independent psychosocial determinant of pain experience that should be taken into account in assessing the prognosis of facial pain and its treatment.