Dr. Okeson is Professor, Division Chief and Director of the Orofacial Pain Program, which he established in 1977. Dr. Okeson has more than 240 publications in the area of occlusion, TM disorders and orofacial pain in various national and international journals. He has authored two textbooks on TM disorders and orofacial pain, which have been translated into twelve different languages. Dr. Okeson is a very sought after lecturer on the subject of TMD and orofacial pain and has presented more than 1300 invited lectures on the subject of TMD and orofacial pain in all 50 states and in 59 different countries. He has received the campus wide University of Kentucky “Great Teacher Award”, the Provost’s Distinguished Service Professorship, the American Academy of Orofacial Pain’s Service Award, the Acorn Award for the outstanding professor in the state of Kentucky and the first ever “Distinguished Alumni Award” from the College of Dentistry. Dr. Okeson has also received “The International Dentist of the Year Award” from the Academy of Dentistry International. This is the highest award recognized by this Academy and was given to him in recognition of his worldwide efforts in providing education in the area of temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain.

This presentation will highlight the history of events that led to the present specialty status of orofacial pain. The early concepts introduced by Costen suggested dentistry as the answer to facial pain. Dentists began to focus on occlusion, condylar position and jaw relationship. A variety of study clubs and philosophies emerged resulting in much debate, and at times, intense arguments. Many of the past facts and fantasies will be presented. In an attempt to resolve the many controversies came the enlightening time of evidence-based dentistry. Demanding scientific evidence drove the profession to look outside of traditional dentistry to neurology and neurophysiology of pain. Along with this came the need to understand the vast field of headaches. As the field expanded, TMD became only a relatively small part of all orofacial pains. It became obvious that dentists could play a significant role in the management of many non TMD pains. Today we find dentists diagnosing and managing many pain conditions not directly associated with the masticatory structures. With this came the need to recognize a greatly expanded field and a new dental specialty was created.

Objectives:

• Explain the first concepts that brought TMD to the dental profession.
• Describe the difference between antidotal statements and evidence-based science.
• Discuss the importance of establishing a specific pain diagnosis.