Persistent orofacial pain : taking the pain out of presentations by having a plan!

Aim of the day: to give a contemporaneous overview of persistent orofacial pain’s pathophysiology, and specifically the diagnosis and management of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) and Phantom tooth pain relevant to practicing clinicians.

Learning outcomes:

To be able to explain the pathophysiology of trigeminally-mediated pain and its implications in the presentation of persistent orofacial pain

To be able to describe the range of mimicking pathology and its presentations in relationship to orofacial pain

To be able to explain the biopsychosocial aetiology of Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and its role in the management of TMD

To know and be able to explain the conservative and pharmacological management options for TMD

To be able to explain how to systematically examine, screen, and test for neuropathic “phantom” tooth pain

To know the modalities available for the management of generic neuropathic pain such as “phantom tooth pain” 

Learning outcomes will delivered through three lectures entitled:

1. The tooth and pulp: what’s the brain got to do with it?
2. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD): totally manageable by dentists!
3. “Phantom” tooth pain: a spectre for endodontics?