The most critical, and often the most difficult task for the clinician treating TMD is not managing the case; it is making the proper diagnosis. Referring to the patient as a “TMJ patient” will very likely lead to poor therapeutic success. Establishing the correct  diagnosis is critical in selecting affective treatment. Adding to this difficulty is all the  other sources of orofacial pain that can present as face pain. This presentation will review the diagnostic categories of TMD and the critical importance of establishing the correct diagnosis.

You will learn to:

• Differentiate TMD from other orofacial pain disorders
• Differentiate masticatory muscle pain disorders from intracapsular disorders
• Describe a classification for temporomandibular

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 eleven 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 58 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.