Schedule

Pre-conference
Workshops

Ticket Required to Attend

8:00am – 5:00pm
Orofacial Pain Introductory Program

Course directors: Fernanda Yanez, Seema Kurup
Presenters: Beth Groenke, Pratishtha Mishra, Marcia Rojas, Seema Kurup, James Hawkins, Alex Vaughan

Summary
The Orofacial Pain Introductory course provides a basic overview of the evaluation, diagnosis and management of the most common Orofacial pain conditions encountered in the general practice setting. It provides an opportunity for clinicians to recognize different clinical scenarios and provides tools for identifying proper referral to Orofacial pain specialists.

8:30am – 8:55am
Welcome and Introduction to Orofacial Pain
Seema Kurup

9:00am – 9:40am
Anatomy and imaging of the masticatory system
Beth Groenke

Groenke Bio:

Dr. Beth Groenke has a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Engineering with a Biomedical Emphasis from Missouri University of Science and Technology, a D.D.S from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, and a certificate in Orofacial Pain and an M.S. in Dentistry from the University of Minnesota in the field of dental MRI. She has also completed the Earl E. Bakken Medical Devices Fellowship through the University of Minnesota, and she is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain.

Currently, Dr. Groenke practices general dentistry, uses her orofacial pain specialty training as founder/CEO of PhysiAroma, a MedTech start-up company developing a novel device to help manage chronic pain, and she performs dental MRI research with the team at the University of Minnesota.

Description of Talk: Anatomy and Imaging of the Masticatory System

This lecture will walk the clinician through a refresher of key anatomical features of the masticatory system with a specific focus on the temporomandibular joint and related structures. We will discuss indications for imaging of the most common orofacial pain-related disorders and the most appropriate modality to use, based on indication. Finally, we will review practice cases.

Learning Objectives:

Understand indications for imaging of the masticatory system for TMD and orofacial pain-related disorders
Be able to order appropriate imaging for TMD and orofacial pain-related diagnoses
Be able to identify key anatomical features for diagnosis of common TMD-related disorders

9:45 am – 10:30am
Interview taking and physical examination of the OFP patient
Marcia Rojas

10:30am – 10:45am
Question & Answer

10:45 am – 11:00 am
Break

11:00 am – 11:55am
The Art of Diagnosis: Exploring Painful and non-Painful
Temporomandibular Disorders
Fernanda Yanez

12:00pm – 12:45pm
Refractory tooth pain “Think outside the Box”
Prathishtha Mishra

Bio:

Dr. Mishra received her masters in Periodontics in 2011 prior to coming to University of Kentucky to pursue masters in Orofacial Pain. She joined the college of dentistry faculty in the Department of Oral Health Practice, in July 2019. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain and is eligible for certification by the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. She participates in the Orofacial Pain Graduate Training Program and has served as an international speaker in CE programs in the areas of Orofacial Pain, Dental Sleep Medicine and Periodontology.

She is an active member of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP), American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), American academy of Periodontology (AAP), and International Academy of Dental Research (IADR) and serves in their national scientific and CE committees. She aspires to encourage and develop inter-professional education and train future clinicians to accept inter-professional mode of practice. She is currently involved in multiple research projects involving neuropathic pain, periodontal inflammation and obstructive sleep apnea at UKCD. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and listening to podcasts.

Objectives:

Discuss differential diagnoses of non-dental tooth pain.
Discuss red flags of refractory tooth pain.
Discuss clinical steps to manage refractory tooth pain.

12:45pm – 1:00pm
Question & Answer

1:00 pm – 2:00pm
Lunch Break

2pm – 2:45 pm
Case Presentation
Seema Kurup

2:50pm – 3:40pm
Tools for initial management of patient with Temporomandibular Disorder
James Hawkins

Bio:

Dr. James Hawkins currently serves as Chair of the Orofacial Pain Center at the Naval Postgraduate Dental School (NPDS) in Bethesda, MD, as well as the Orofacial Pain Specialty Leader to the Navy Surgeon General. He completed a residency in Orofacial Pain at NPDS and received a Master’s Degree in Oral Biology from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in 2015. In 2017, he received a certificate in Medical Acupuncture from Helms Medical Institute. Dr. Hawkins is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain and the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. His recent academic awards include the NPDS Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence (2021) and the Walter Reed Associate Master Clinician Award (2021). He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Orofacial Pain. He is also an oral board examiner for the American Board of Orofacial Pain.

Description:

Learn essential self-care strategies for managing orofacial pain at our introductory conference session. These foundation techniques help alleviate discomfort, improve resiliency, and enhance overall well-being in the comfort of your own home.

Learning objectives:

Acquire practical self-care strategies and techniques for managing orofacial pain at home, including relaxation exercises, gentle jaw stretches, and mindfulness techniques to alleviate discomfort and promote overall well-being.
Develop an understanding of the importance of lifestyle factors such as stress management, sleep hygiene, and proper ergonomics in preventing and mitigating orofacial pain, fostering a proactive approach to maintaining oral and facial health.

3:45pm – 4:15pm
Oral Appliance Therapy for TMD
Alex Vaughan

4:15pm – 4:30pm
Question & Answer

9:00am – 4:00pm
The Neuroscience of Pain: Clinical Application Strategies for the Management of Persistent Pain

Course director: Eveline Erni
Presenter: Adriaan Louw, PT, PhD

Bio:

Adriaan Louw, PT, PhD

Adriaan earned his undergraduate, master’s degree and PhD in physiotherapy from the University of Stellenbosch in Cape Town, South Africa. He is an adjunct faculty member at St. Ambrose University and the University of Nevada Las Vegas, teaching pain science. Adriaan has taught throughout the US and internationally for 25 years at numerous national and international manual therapy, pain science and medical conferences. He has authored and co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles related to spinal disorders and pain science. Adriaan completed his Ph.D. on pain neuroscience education and is the Director of the Therapeutic Neuroscience Research Group – an independent collaborative initiative studying pain neuroscience. Adriaan is a senior faculty, pain science director and vice-president of faculty experience for Evidence in Motion.

Summary

With high rates of chronic pain and the opioid epidemic, various strategies are being explored to help patients with chronic pain. In the last 20 years, pain neuroscience education (PNE) emerged in rehabilitation as an evidence-based, clinically applicable approach to help people with chronic pain. PNE aims to teach patients more about their underlying biology and physiology of their pain experience, using metaphors, examples, and images.

To date, a dozen meta-analyses and systematic reviews have shown strong evidence for PNE to positively influence pain ratings, disability scores, limited movement, fear-avoidance, pain catastrophizing and healthcare utilization.

Additionally, when PNE is combined with behavioral and movement-based treatments (PNE+), it yields even superior results. PNE literature is now becoming common-place in medical journals, and it is proposed that ideally all healthcare providers would collectively use PNE to provide evidence-based, multidisciplinary care for people with chronic pain. First, this lecture aims to update medical providers on the latest neuroscience of pain, followed by a session describing how PNE, along with other non- pharmacological treatments can help people in pain. A key part of the session will delve further emerging research that shows how interaction, especially words used by healthcare providers can increase pain (WordsHARM), but also, more importantly strategies to use to decrease fear, anxiety, catastrophizing and ultimately…pain (WordsHEAL). This session does not only apply to chronic pain, but all phases of pain and a must for all medical providers seeking to decrease pain, disability and suffering of those experiencing pain.

9:00am – 10:30am
The Neuroscience of Pain
Adriaan Louw

Description:

The last three decades can easily be coined as the “pain revolution,” fueled by the global pain epidemic, US opioid epidemic and more recent COVOD-19 pandemic. With increased pain rates, intertwined with increased behavioral health issues, more research into human pain experiences has ensued, uncovering many of the complexities of pain. Pain is a multi-dimensional experience intertwined between tissue (nociceptive) issues, environmental influences, sensitization of the nervous system, immune responses, neuroplastic changes, functional and structural changes in the human brain, and many more. This presentation aim to update attendees on the latest neuroscience of pain, but also ensuring a clinical underpinning to allow for clinical relevance and application.

Objectives:

Recognize the influence of pain, opioid, COVID-19 and behavioral/mental health epidemics fueling advances in pain research.
Update knowledge on the more recent advances in pain science as it relates to clinical application.
Develop an increased understanding of the biopsychosocial aspects of pain and the relevant importance of each aspect.
Develop a working knowledge of modern pain science that can be applied to clinical practice.

10:30am – 10:45am
Break

10:45am – 12:15pm
PNE + Non-Pharmacological Treatment Strategies for Pain
Adriaan Louw

Description:

Pain is complex and new paradigms of pain, i.e., neuromatrix, nerve sensitivity, endocrine and immune responses to pain and neuroplasticity have opened various exciting non-pharmacological options in the treatment of pain. One such approach is altering what patients think and believe about their pain. It is well established that patients often have faulty beliefs regarding pain, which in turn may increase fear, catastrophizing, pain and disability. The paradox is that patients are interested in pain; especially how pain works. Growing evidence supports that teaching patients more about the neurophysiology and biology of pain allows for decreased pain, increased movement and function, various decreased psychometric measurements, and higher compliance with treatment. This lecture will expose healthcare providers to a newly designed pain neuroscience education language used in various research projects and clinical practice with the aim to help patients achieve success. This session is a must for all healthcare providers dealing with people….in pain.

Objectives:

Analyze how common faulty cognitions impact pain and disability in people with pain
Justify the need to carefully reanalyze the use of biomedical information to educate patients about pain
Recognize the evidence supporting pain neuroscience education for people in pain
Integrate the latest neuroscience of pain into clinical reasoning in people with persistent pain
Verify how neuroscience education uses metaphors, examples, and pictures in an easy-to-understand format for people in pain
Explain to a patient how the body’s alarm system, the nervous system, becomes increasingly sensitive; how it impacts function and how therapy can help.
Apply concepts, treatments, and examples from the presentation into immediate clinical application

12:15pm – 1:15pm
Lunch Break

1:15pm – 2:45pm
Words that Harm and Words that Heal
Adriaan Louw

Description:

More than 100 million Americans are currently experiencing some form of persistent pain. Persistent pain is associated with increased utilization of healthcare dollars, added burden on healthcare providers and ancillary staff. It is now well established that pain is produced by a person’s brain when it perceives there is a threat. Threats come in different forms including injury, surgery, emotional distress and more. New research has shown that by altering the threat the brain perceives, pain can be influenced significantly. One powerful way to alter threat is the information we provide patients. The choice of words used by clinicians, support staff and even office personnel truly have the ability to harm or heal, and that includes the context, tone, and other factors involving the interactions with patients. This lecture, using the latest neuroscience research, provides attendees with the latest understanding of how pain works and showcases current front-office and medical interactions that can harm patients, sometimes unknowingly. On the flip side, the presentation features various strategies that can help patients along their recovery path, starting with the first phone call.

Objectives:

Develop and understanding how pain is produced by the brain based on perception of threat
Recognize how many current models of reception/front office may not only “not help” but indeed increase a patient’s pain experience
Utilize the latest pain neuroscience research to develop a front office approach that enhance patient care and customer service
Recognize the importance of team building between administrative, front office personnel and clinical staff
Immediately implement and apply strategies from the presentation into clinical practice

2:45pm – 3:00pm
Break

3:00pm – 3:45pm
Case-based Learning: Clinical Application and Clinical Pearls
Adriaan Louw

Description:

In recent years there has been a big interest in teaching people about pain. Various meta-analyses, systematic reviews and randomized clinical trials confirm its efficacy to help pain and disability in people struggling with chronic pain. In contrast to scientific activity, there remains a clinical need: How do you actually do it? Who needs it? How do you merge it with traditional non-pharmacological and movement-based treatments? This session will provide a step-by-step clinical application of pain neuroscience education (PNE) in a real-life clinical practice. Using current pain mechanisms, clinicians will be taught how to identify ideal patients for PNE; examine and screen these patients and prepare them for PNE. PNE will be showcased via various, ready-to-use metaphors including patient education tools and home-exercise activities. The sessions will show how PNE complements and blends with movement-based therapies including pacing, graded exposure, and exercise, as well as strategies to calm the nervous system – breathing, mindfulness-based stress reduction and more. This session is a must for anyone treating patients in pain.

Objectives:

Develop a greater understanding of the content and delivery methods of pain neuroscience education
Develop strategies to educate patients regarding various aspects of pain
Combine pain neuroscience education with movement-based approaches to practice in line with current best-evidence for treating chronic pain
Apply the information from the educational session into clinical practice

3:45pm – 4:00pm
Question & Answer

9:00am – 4:00pm
Introduction to the Management of Sleep-related Breathing Disorders with Oral Appliances

Course director: Sherwin Arman
Presenters: Jeff Shaefer, Ashkan Saadi, Steven D. Bender, Sherwin Armen

Summary:
This pre-conference course is designed for dental professionals who plan to introduce sleep apnea treatment for their patients. It is a full day course that starts off with the basics: definitions, epidemiology of sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD), and the role of dental treatments in the management of sleep apnea.

The course will then move into explanations for the pathophysiology of SRBDs and phenotyping of OSA patients who are candidates for treatment with dental appliances.

The afternoon session will involve “hands on” teaching and practice for the examination and treatment of the OSA with the most used dental appliances.

9:00am – 10:00am
Course Introduction
Jeff Shaefer

10:00am – 11:00am
Understanding Sleep Apnea
Ashkan Saadi

Bio:

Dr. Ashkan Saadi DMD is a published author and researcher in neurodegenerative diseases, periodontics, and orofacial pain. As a devoted lecturer in the Orofacial Pain Program at Mass General Hospital, Dr. Saadi is dedicated to advancing knowledge in the field and enhancing patient outcomes. Alongside his academic endeavors, he oversees a successful private practice in the Boston area, where he and his team specialize in treating orofacial pain, dental sleep medicine, and all aspects of general dentistry. Dr. Saadi’s commitment to both research and clinical excellence underscores his comprehensive approach to improving oral health and well-being.

Description:

Will cover following areas:

Pathophysiology of sleep apnea
Phenotyping of patients with sleep apnea
Understanding Polysomnogram reports

Objectives:

Attendees will be familiar with risk factors associated with mild, moderate, and severe OSA
Attendees will understand what types of OSA patients are candidates for dental treatment of OSA
Attendees will be familiar with reading a PSG and home sleep study (HST)
Attendees will be familiar with the mechanism of action of dental OSA devices

11:00am – 11:15am
Coffee Break

11:15am – 12:00pm
Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Steven D Bender DDS

Bio:

Dr. Bender is a Clinical Associate Professor at Texas A&M School of Dentistry in Dallas Texas and serves as the director of the Clinical Center for Facial Pain and Sleep Medicine. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain and has earned Fellowships in the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, the American Headache Society, and the American College of Dentists. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas in 1986 and studied orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders at the Parker E Mahan Facial Pain Center at the University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville Florida from 1998 to 2000. Since that time, his practice has been limited to the diagnosis and management of orofacial pain and sleep disorders. In 2024, Dr. Bender was appointed as an Associate Editor of CRANIO® The Journal of Craniomandibular & Sleep Practice.

Description:

Sleep disorders and in particular, sleep related breathing disorders occur commonly in the population. It is important for the dental practitioner and team to be able to identify and properly refer these patients for the most appropriate care. The dental team is in a very favorable position to provide therapies when the traditional positive pressure therapy fails or is not tolerated. This talk will discuss a recommended protocol for evaluating and referring the patient as well as some of the treatment options available for this patient group.

Learning objectives:

Attendees will be able to explain how the dentist can participate in the treatment of patients with sleep related breathing disorders.
Attendees will be discover the process of evaluating and managing patients with sleep related breathing disorders in their practice.
Attendees will recognize the importance of collaborating with their physician colleagues in the diagnosis and management of patients with sleep disorders.
Attendees will be able to compare some of the most common treatment options for sleep related breathing disorders.

12:00pm – 1:00pm
Oral appliances
Sherwin Armen

1:00pm – 2:00pm
Lunch Break

2:00pm – 4:00pm
Hands-on Instruction for Dental Treatment of SRBDs
Facilitators: Jeff Shaefer, Sherwin Armen, Aurelio Alonso, Ashkan Saadi and others from AAOP Sleep Committee

4:00pm – 4:30pm
Question & Answer

9:00am – 4:00pm
Orofacial Pain Private Practice

Course director: Nojan Bakhtiar
Nojan Bakhtiari, Katayoun Omrani, Brijesh Chandwani, Alan Withall

Summary:
The Orofacial Pain (OFP) Private Practice course provides information that will help new and established OFP practitioners establish and maintain a financially successful OFP practice that is committed to the highest level of quality of care. Presentations will cover practice management models that will review private practice and hospital practices, transitioning from general to OFP practice, and in-house OFP services for multiple referring group practices. Start-up, corporate organization, supplier, and working with professional advisors will be covered.

9:00am – 9:30am
Introduction & Overview
Nojan Bakhtiari

9:30am – 10:15am
Practice Model 1: Hybrid OFP Private Practice and Hospital-affiliated OFP Practice
Katayoun Omrani

10:15am – 11:00am
Practice Model 2: Transitioning from General Dentistry to an OFP Private Practice
Michele Schultz-Robins

Bio:

Dr. Michele Schultz-Robins is a dedicated dentist who has been practicing general dentistry and Orofacial Pain for the past three decades. After completion of her DMD from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (now Rutgers School of Dental Medicine) and GPR from Monmouth Medical Center in NJ, she enrolled in the two-year program at UMDNJ entitled “Diagnosis and Management of Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders”. Dr. Schultz-Robins is also board certified in Orofacial Pain.

Dr. Schultz-Robins has incorporated treating orofacial pain, TMDs, and general dentistry in her private practice. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Schultz-Robins holds a dual appointment as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Orofacial Pain Department and Restorative Department at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and is an attending at Monmouth Medical Center.
Dr. Schultz-Robins is committed to giving back to her specialty and community. She has been active in AAOP and is currently serves as its treasurer. She also is president of American Friends of Dental Volunteers for Israel which is a free clinic in Jerusalem serving the community at large.
With her expertise, compassion, and commitment to excellence, Dr. Schultz-Robins is dedicated to the furtherment of the specialty of orofacial pain.

Description:

This lecture will discuss the journey involved in transitioning from a general dental practice to a specialized field focusing on Orofacial Pain. Discussion of the educational /financial/ office requirements, this lecture outlines the necessary steps and additional training needed to establish expertise in Orofacial Pain. Attendees will gain practical insights into setting up a private practice, including legal considerations, location selection, and equipment requirements. Moreover, the lecture delves into effective marketing strategies, patient education techniques, and financial planning essential for a successful transition.

Objectives:

Identify personal and professional motivations for transitioning from a general practice to an orofacial pain practice
Identify challenges- financial, in making this transition
Recognize the education requirements and additional training necessary for establishing a career in Orofacial Pain
Explore strategies for gaining expertise and hands-on experience in Orofacial Pain Management
Evaluate the practice considerations involved in setting up a private practice specializing in Orofacial Pain, including legal, location, and equipment considerations.

11:00am – 11:15am
Question & Answer

11:15am – 11:30am
Break

11:30am – 12:15pm
Practice Model 3: Start-up Orofacial Pain Practice
Nojan Bakhtiari

12:15pm – 12:30pm
Question & Answer

12:30pm – 1:30pm
Lunch

1:30pm – 2:15pm
Practice Model 4: Providing in-house OFP Services in Multiple Group Practices
Brijesh Chandwani

Bio:

Dr. Brijesh Chandwani is board certified in Orofacial Pain and an ABOP Diplomat. Dr. Chandwani currently holds an academic position as Adjunct Associate Professor in the department of Diagnostic Sciences at Tufts University, Boston and at the St. Barnabas Hospital, Bronx. Dr. Chandwani underwent his dental training (DMD) at Tufts University in Boston, where he also did his post graduate fellowship training in Temporomandibular Disorders and Sleep apnea. He completed his Acupuncture training from Harvard Medical School, Boston.

Description:

The presentation will discuss integration of Orofacial pain as part of group practice. Discussion will include logistics, admin, advantages and disadvantages.

Objectives:

understand the market dynamics of Orofacial pain
decision making on pathways in business of Orofacial pain (academia, multi-specialty practice and solo practice)

2:15pm – 3:00pm
Corporate structuring and working with professional advisors

3:00pm – 3:45pm
Dental supplier perspective on the nuances of an orofacial pain practice
Alan Withall

Alan Withall, originally a Wisconsin native, moved out to New Jersey to work for Henry Schein Dental in 2013. In 2014, Alan recognized a need for a more business-focused study group to better engage younger dentists in the start-up process and developed the FYI Study Club-New York. Since then, Alan continues to Network and brand himself as one of the go-to consultants in the Tri-state, and more recently, opening up to the Country, for dental start-ups! Alan’s events and involvement in the dental community can be better followed on his social media profile, @newyorkdentalconsultant.

Below please find a graphic that defines my presentation, outlining a timeline that runs through one’s process to open a practice. We will review each of these points in detail.

Learning objectives would be to ensure a timely and efficient process to allow a clinician to start their own practice.

Vision/Branding
Financing
Owning Versus leasing real estate
Design
Architecture / Construction
Marketing
Equipment and Merchandising
Relationships with vendors
Building your team

Scientific
Program

Opening Remarks

Welcome New Members
8:00am – 8:05am
Jeff Goldberg

Welcome New Fellows
8:05am – 8:10am
Jasjot Sahni

Welcome New CCTTs
8:10am – 8:15am
Janey Prodoehl

Keynote
8:15am – 9:00am
Evidence-based Dentistry and Critical Thinking
Gary Klasser

Bio:

Dr. Gary D. Klasser, DMD, Cert. Orofacial Pain

Dr. Gary D. Klasser, a Fellow and Past-President of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, obtained his dental degree from the University of Manitoba (Canada) in 1980. Over the next 22 years, he enjoyed the practice of general dentistry from both a public health and private practice perspective until he returned to graduate studies in 2002. In 2004, he completed his training and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Certificate in Orofacial Pain. In 2005, he completed a fellowship in Oral Medicine/Oral Oncology at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). From 2005 – 2011, he was an Assistant Professor and Director of the Oral Medicine/Orofacial Pain clinic at that institution. Currently, he is a Professor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences at Louisiana State University, School of Dentistry. Dr. Klasser has published numerous peer reviewed scientific articles, contributed many chapters to various textbooks and has been an editor for a number of books including the AAOP Guidelines. He also serves as an associate editor or as an editorial reviewer for a number of journals.

Description:

All healthcare stakeholders, including those involved in providing oral healthcare, make clinical decisions on a daily basis. How is this accomplished? What is the foundation for making these often life altering decisions? How does the practitioner justify the decisions made for the health of their patients as to the most prudent and efficacious approach being considered? Evidence-based care represents a significant endeavor to make the foundations of clinical care both more scientific and more explicit. This effort is based on the desire to avoid harmful or ineffective treatments, to provide patients with effective interventions, and to support equitable access to proven interventions. The operationalization of this approach has its roots in the concept of critical thinking. This presentation will explore various aspects of evidence-based care and its reliance on critical thinking skills. Furthermore, a futuristic glimpse of the potential influence of artificial intelligence on these measures will be discussed.

Objectives:

Understand and appreciate the concepts of evidence-based care and how this applies to dentistry.
Understand and appreciate the development and use of critical thinking skills.
Provoke thought as to the future influence of artificial intelligence on our daily lives.

Tributes
9:00am – 9:05am
Tributes to Drs. Gary Klasser & Reny De Leeuw
Marcela Romero Reyes

Plenary
9:05am – 9:50am
The Human Pain Experience: Clinical Insights from Pain Neuroscience Education
Adriaan Louw

Session chair: Isabel Moreno Hay and Tom Weber

Bio:

Adriaan Louw, PT, PhD

Description:

Pain is complex and new paradigms of pain, i.e., neuromatrix, nerve sensitivity, endocrine and immune responses to pain and neuroplasticity have opened various exciting non-pharmacological options in the treatment of pain. One such approach is altering what patients think and believe about their pain. It is well established that patients often have faulty beliefs regarding pain, which in turn may increase fear, catastrophizing, pain and disability. The paradox is that patients are interested in pain; especially how pain works. Growing evidence supports that teaching patients more about the neurophysiology and biology of pain allows for decreased pain, increased movement and function, various decreased psychometric measurements, and higher compliance with therapy. This lecture will expose healthcare providers to a newly designed pain neuroscience education language used in various research projects and clinical practice with the aim to help patients achieve success. This session is a must for all healthcare providers dealing with people….in pain.

Objectives:

Analyze how common faulty cognitions impact pain and disability in people with pain.
Justify the need to carefully reanalyze the use of biomedical information to educate patients about pain.
Recognize the evidence supporting pain neuroscience education for people in pain.
Integrate the latest neuroscience of pain into clinical reasoning in people with persistent pain.
Verify how neuroscience education uses metaphors, examples, and pictures in an easy-to-understand format for people in pain.
Explain to a patient how the body’s alarm system, the nervous system, becomes increasingly sensitive; how it impacts function and how therapy can help.
Apply concepts, treatments, and examples from the presentation into immediate clinical application.

Panel Discussion
9:50am – 10:05am
Moderator: Tom Weber

10:05am – 10:30am | Break

Plenary
10:30am – 11:15am
Bruxism: Facts and Fables
Frank Lobbezoo

Bio:

Frank Lobbezoo graduated cum laude as dentist in 1988 from the University of Utrecht (UU), The Netherlands. In 1992, he obtained his PhD degree from the UU, after which he worked for three years as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Montreal in Quebec, Canada. As of September 1996, he works at the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), The Netherlands, where he was appointed as a full professor in 2005. In 2014, he was appointed as Chair of the Department of Oral Health Sciences and Vice-Dean of ACTA. As of March 2023, he serves as Chair of the Department of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction. Frank Lobbezoo is specialized in TMD/Orofacial Pain, Past President of the Dutch Dental Society (NTG), Past President of the European Academy of Craniomandibular Disorders (EACD), and Past President of the International RDC/TMD Consortium, a Network of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR). He served as Visiting Professor at the University of Adelaide in South-Australia, Australia (2006) and at the College of Dentistry of the New York University in New York, USA (2014-2015). In 2019, he was appointed as Honorary Skou Professor of Orofacial Pain and Jaw Function at the Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, Denmark. Since 2023, he is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).

Description:

Bruxism is a jaw-motor behavior that has received increasing attention from dental professionals in recent decades. Despite the growing body of literature, many fables about bruxism are still told. This lecture will elaborate on six facts about bruxism: 1. Bruxism as we know it best has only been defined in otherwise healthy individuals; 2. Bruxism is a common finding in the general population; 3. Bruxism has a multifactorial (biopsychosocial) etiology; 4. Bruxism may have several negative consequences for the bruxing individual; 5. Bruxism may also have a number of possible positive consequences for the bruxing individual; and 6. The assessment and management of bruxism requires an interdisciplinary approach. Based on this elaboration, the facts will hopefully replace the fables.

Objectives:

At the end of this lecture, the attendees should:

Know the current definitions of bruxism, and the limitations thereof.
Be aware of the epidemiological characteristics of bruxism.
Have insight into the multifactorial etiology of bruxism.
Know the possible negative AND positive consequences of bruxism.
Understand the need for an interdisciplinary management of bruxism.

Parallel 1A
11:15am – 12:15pm
Mechanisms of Orofacial Pain Referral
Fernando Exposto

Dr. Fernando Exposto is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow and Clinical Instructor at Aarhus University in Denmark. He obtained his PhD degree in Health Sciences at the same university in 2019. He graduate from dental school at ISCSEM in Lisbon (Portugal)in 2007. He completed a Master in Dental Sciences, Danube University (Austria) from 2007 to 2011. In 2015, he graduated from the 2 year CODA approved program in Orofacial Pain at the University of Kentucky (USA). From 2016 to 2018 he completed a Master in Headache Disorders at the Copenhagen University (Denmark). Dr. Exposto is a Diplomate by the American Board of Orofacial Pain since 2016.

Panel Discussion
12:00pm – 12:15pm | Room 4
Moderator: Alberto Herrero Babiloni

Parallel 1B
11:130am – 12:15pm
Ergonomics in Craniofacial Pain Management: A Practical Guide to Enhance Patient Care
Brett Weiss

Bio:

Dr. Brett Weiss is a physical therapist specializing in craniofacial pain and headache management. He holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Utica University and a Bachelors in Marketing from Hofstra University. Brett is a Certified Cervical & Temporomandibular Therapist by the Physical Therapy Board of Craniofacial and Cervical Therapeutics and an affiliate member of the AAOP. He is the co-founder and CEO of ErgoSesh Inc., an workplace wellness company specializing in remote ergonomic consultations has conducted over 1,000 assessments globally.

Description:

Should you consider office ergonomics as part of your treatment plan?

Many overlook the impact of workplace environments on health, despite spending over 40 hours there weekly. While office ergonomics is typically delegated to human resources and engineers, healthcare practitioners are uniquely positioned to drive change.
In this presentation, we explore real-life case studies and interactive demos showcasing how integrating ergonomics into treatment plans can be transformative. Participants will grasp the profound influence of ergonomic consultation as a healthcare service, understanding its role in addressing issues like forward head posture affecting the TMJ and cervical spine
Led by a physical therapist and ergonomic specialist, attendees will gain insights into the symbiotic relationship between ergonomics and craniofacial therapy. By reframing ergonomics as a collaborative effort between patient and clinician, this talk empowers attendees to extend their reach beyond clinic walls, enhancing patient care through workspace investigation

Learning Objectives:

Discover the evolution of ergonomics from workplace safety to enhancing patient care.
Engage with the modern realities of hybrid work environments and their impact on patient ergonomics.
Explore real-world case studies showcasing the synergy of clinical and ergonomic approaches in pain management.
Uncover hidden ergonomic pitfalls that subconsciously pull us into poor postures, heightening the risk of craniofacial pain.
Identify the most common design flaws in furniture that inadvertently create ergonomic barriers for patients.
Acquire practical strategies for educating patients on setting up ergonomic-friendly environments to alleviate pain and enhance function.
Learn how to integrate ergonomic evaluations into clinical assessments for head, neck, and jaw patients.

Industry-Sponsored Session
11:30am – 12:00pm
Presentation by Team Dentistry
Session is supported by Team Dentistry. This session is not eligible for CE credits.

Industry-Sponsored Lunch & Learn
12:15pm – 1:30pm | Room 6
Presentation by Legally Mine
Session is supported by Legally Mine. This session is not eligible for CE credits.

Lunch & Learn
12:15pm – 1:30pm
Onabotulinum Toxin Injections for Pain Management
Brigitte Lovell

Bio:

Dr. Brigitte Lovell is the Director for the Keeler Center for Headache & Orofacial Pain in Ventura County, CA. Her practice is associated with Community Memorial Health System Hospital. She is a Diplomate and board certified in Orofacial Pain. She has a specialty practice treating migraines, headache disorders, and Orofacial Pain. She completed a neurology headache fellowship at the prestigious Thomas Jefferson University Headache Center in Philadelphia, PA. Preceding that, she completed residency training in Orofacial Pain at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) under Dr. Merrill and Dr. Graff-Radford. She is a graduate of the inaugural dental class of the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health. She attended the University of Texas at Austin for undergrad. She originally is from El Paso, TX.

Description:

We will be discussing botox injections for Chronic Migraine, TMD, myofascial pain. Botox can be a useful tool for patients who are suffering from pain disorders. Injections with botox can be widely used in your practice. We will discuss indications, uses, and treatment. We will assess who are good candidates, the contraindications and discuss adverse effects. Reconstitution will be explained as well as injection techniques/sites for the different part of the head, jaw, neck, shoulders. Lastly, the workflow of prior authorizations, costs, scheduling, and work flow matters.

Objectives - A brief review of the purported mechanisms of action of Botox

Indications, contraindications, and case selection
Tips for reconstitution
Injection techniques for different areas of the head/jaws/neck
Potential adverse effects and how to manage them
Clinical workflow

Lunch & Learn
12:15pm – 1:30pm
Headache Procedures
Brian McGeeney

Dr. McGeeney received his medical degree from University College Dublin, Ireland, before completing a neurology residency, pain fellowship and Master of Public Health (epidemiology and biostatistics) at Boston University and Boston Medical Center. He obtained boards in Neurology, with added qualification (board) in Pain Medicine, and the UCNS board in Headache Medicine. He was an assistant to the Boston University Neurology Residency director, an assistant professor of neurology, actively involved in the education of the residents and students. He is now staff at the JR Graham Headache Center, division of Headache Medicine, Department of Neurology, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, instructor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. McGeeney was an associate editor of the journal Headache and since 2006 secretary of the Headache Cooperative of New England. Dr. McGeeney obtained a Master of Business Administration (Health Sector) from Boston University Questrum School of Business. He is the program director of the Mass General Brigham Headache Medicine Fellowship, the only Headache Medicine Fellowship in Massachusetts. Dr. McGeeney has lectured widely and published on topics involving Headache Medicine and Pain.

Lunch & Learn
12:15pm – 1:30pm
Manual Techniques for the Cervical Spine in Orofacial Pain
Nick Rainey

Bio: 

Nick Raney is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, board certified in orthopaedic physical therapy, and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic and Manual Physical Therapists. He has also earned the credential of Certified Cervical and Temporomandibular Therapist (CCTT) by the Physical Therapy Board of Craniofacial & Cervical Therapeutics.

He is an adjunct faculty member at Tufts University in Phoenix, but most of his professional time is spent at his private practices in Sierra Vista, Arizona- Nick Raney Pain & Performance and Sierra Vista Headache and TMJ Specialists. He enjoys teaching TMD in a variety of formats, but in-person, hands-on opportunities are his favorite. Nick has a wonderful wife and 4 young children who are active in sports, church, and school.

Description:

This lecture and lab session is focused on expanding your expertise in managing TMJ complaints through targeted cervical spine manual therapy and home exercise interventions. Throughout this session, we will explore the intricate interplay between the cervical spine and the TMJ, empowering you to discern and effectively address the underlying cervical spine contributions to TMJ issues.
In our hands-on lab segment, if desired and within your scope, you will have the opportunity to practice your skills in hands-on interventions utilizing evidence-based thrust and non-thrust manipulation of the upper cervical spine to address TMJ complaints through cervical spine manipulation.

Objectives:

Develop the ability to confidently identify which patients with TMJ complaints will benefit from cervical spine manual therapy.
Express and, within the practitioner’s scope, demonstrate proficiency in four interventions targeting the cervical spine that prove beneficial for TMJ issues.
Explain the benefits to the TMJ of cervical spine manual therapy.

Parallel 2A
1:30pm – 2:15pm
Targeted Immunomodulation with Nanomedicine Produces Long-Lasting Analgesia, Tissue, and Functional Recovery
Jelena Janjic, “Dr. J”

Jelena M. Janjic, PhD “Dr. J”

Bio:

Jelena M. Janjic, PhD, also known as “Dr. J”, is a tenured Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics in the School of Pharmacy, and a Founder/Co-Director of the Chronic Pain Research Consortium (CPRC, www.duq.edu/pain [duq.edu]) at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, USA. She received her pharmacy degree at Belgrade University, Form. Yugoslavia in 1998 and her Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy in 2005. She completed her post-doctoral training at Scripps Florida (2006) and Carnegie Mellon University (2009). Her research interests lie at the intersection of immunology and neuroscience in controlling neuroinflammation in pain, trauma, and regenerative medicine. Specifically, her work has focused on nanomedicines, which simultaneously image and modulate immune cells for therapeutic intervention in trauma and post-surgical pain, pain following neuromusculoskeletal injuries, and neuropathic and inflammatory pain. She also works in organ transplantation and rejection control, regenerative medicine, and organ preservation. Her designs have been successfully validated in small and large animal models of acute and chronic pain, trauma, and transplant rejection. She is the inventor of the first neuroinflammation-targeted nanomedicine analgesic. CDMRP, USAF, and NIH (NIBIB, NIDA) have extensively supported her work in nanomedicine and biomaterials. She shares her pragmatic approach to manufacturing in nanomedicine with her students, both in her research laboratory and by teaching manufacturing in the graduate program at Duquesne University for over a decade. She is passionate about solving manufacturing problems to expedite bringing high-quality nanomedicines to patients.

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelenajanjic/

Abstract:

Continued reliance on opioids as the “gold standard” of pain treatment has resulted in a growing “epidemic” of prescription opioid abuse among veterans returning home from the battlefield. A major limitation of current non-opioid and local analgesics is their lack of molecular and cellular targeting to engage key cellular players in the neuronal injury milieu effectively. Immunomodulating theranostic pain nanomedicines offer unique advantages to standard non-opioid treatments by directly engaging these targets and achieving> 1000-fold increases in efficacy. The presented nanomedicine platforms are designed for sustained pain relief following a single intravenous dose and/or local administration where they provide injury and/or disease site-specific, targeted analgesia by directly engaging critical immune cells driving neuroinflammation. These strategies avoid central and peripheral off-site effects common with standard non-opioid treatments and allow for infrequent dosing, which can improve patient compliance. Unlike many nanotechnology-based therapeutics, where costs and quality control represent barriers to clinical translation, the presented nanomedicines can be manufactured to meet all required USP standards for parenteral preparation. Furthermore, these nanomedicines have extended shelf-life, are stable under austere conditions (e.g., high/low temperatures), and can be manufactured at large scale, using robust reproducible manufacturing processes. Using Quality-by-Design (QbD) strategies, we efficiently produced shelf-stable, scalable, sterile, and biocompatible theranostic nanomedicine products. We found that theranostic pain nanomedicines provide pain relief in both sexes while utilizing distinct cellular signatures. Tissue analyses, including immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, collagen counting, and protein and genetic analyses, were performed on rats and mice treated systemically and locally (depending on the model). In all models tested, though unique pathologies drove pain, we consistently observed dramatically improved pain behaviors. Pain behavior improvements correlated to changes in inflammatory milieu at the site of injury or pathology in multiple animal models, including mice, rats, and non-human primates. Theranostic nanomedicine use in animals uncovered unique molecular and cellular signatures of the immune responses in both sexes in response to insult, whether inflammatory or physical nerve injury. Our data provides unique insights into neuroinflammation mechanisms while also serving as compelling evidence that immune targeting is a viable therapeutic strategy for multiple types of pain.

Parallel 2B
1:30pm – 2:30pm
Practical Application of Trigger Point Injections and Dry Needling in the Management of Orofacial Pain: Similarities and Differences
Danielle Medynski and Janey Prodoehl

Moderator: Seema Kurup

Session chair: Isabel Moreno Hay and Tom Weber

Bio:

Janey Prodoehl

Janey Prodoehl is a physical therapist and Professor in the Physical Therapy Program and College of Dental Medicine Illinois at Midwestern University Downers Grove, Illinois. She completed her entry level physical therapy degree in Leeds, England and doctoral and post-doctoral studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Prodoehl has authored numerous publications from her research. She sees patients in the Physical Therapy Institute at Midwestern University with a physical therapy practice focused on neck pain, orofacial pain and headache, and dry needling for musculoskeletal dysfunction. She is a Certified Cervical & Temporomandibular Therapist by the Physical Therapy Board of Craniofacial & Cervical Therapeutics. She is currently leading a team in the development of a clinical practice guideline sponsored by the American Physical Therapy Association, on Temporomandibular Disorders: diagnosis and management for physical therapists.

Danielle C. Medynski

Danielle C. Medynski is a board-certified orofacial pain specialist who practices in Walnut Creek, CA, about 30 minutes outside of San Francisco. She studied under Drs. Okeson and de Leeuw at the University of Kentucky at the Orofacial Pain Residency Program where she received a two-year certificate. She is also proud to be an oral boards examiner for the American Board of Orofacial Pain. A large part of her private practice includes trigger point injections utilizing both wet and dry techniques.

Description:

This session will focus on practical application and comparison of the similarities and differences between trigger point dry needling and injections for masticatory muscles as performed by a physical therapist and an orofacial pain dentist. Participants will have the opportunity to practice select techniques on a model or willing partner. Opportunities for collaboration between physical therapists and orofacial pain dentists in this area will be explored.

Objectives:

Describe key similarities and differences between trigger point dry needling and trigger point injection in proposed mechanism of action and technique.
Demonstrate safe and effective dry needling and trigger point injection approach of select masticatory or cervical structures.
Identify opportunities for collaboration between physical therapists and orofacial pain dentists around trigger point dry needling and trigger point injections in the care of individuals with orofacial pain.

Equipment needed:

A skull model with muscles would be ideal
Plastic models for injecting/practicing (1 per pair, so 15)
Nitrile gloves
Alcohol wipes
Sharps dispensers
AV with camera
Tables and Pillows (if we do live demos and practice)

$50k for 50 Years
2:15pm – 2:30pm
Beth Groenke

Parallel 3A
2:30pm – 3:15pm
Optimizing Sleep Apnea Management: Dentistry’s Role in Personalized Care through the Identification of Endotypes
Alberto Herrero Babiloni

Bio:

Alberto Herrero Babiloni

Alberto, originally from Valencia, Spain, is a scholar with a diverse academic background. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (DDS) and a Masters in Comparative Literature from the University of Valencia. He furthered his studies at the University of Minnesota, where he obtained a Master of Science and completed a 2-year residency program, along with a year of research fellowship in orofacial pain and sleep medicine under the supervision of Dr. Nixdorf and Dr. Moana-Filho.

Continuing his academic pursuits, Alberto engaged in various projects at Université de Montréal, focusing on non-invasive brain stimulation and sleep disorders in orofacial pain populations alongside experts like Gilles Lavigne and Louis De Beaumont. Currently, he is finishing his Ph.D. at McGill University’s Department of Experimental Medicine, under the supervision of Marc O Martel and Gilles Lavigne. His doctoral research centers on understanding the relationship between sleep, psychological variables, and temporomandibular disorders (TMD), while also exploring the potential of transcranial magnetic stimulation in TMD management.

Alberto is collaborating with orofacial pain experts globally, aiming to improve dental medicine education concerning orofacial pain and sleep disorders for practitioners across different countries.

Description:

This lecture will explore the main four different sleep apnea endotypes and their relevance in dental practice. The distinct anatomical, physiological and mechanistic features defining each endotype will be described, with an special emphasis in clinical applicability in order to enable personalized treatment approaches. This session aims to equip dental professionals with the skills to optimize treatment selection and improve patient outcomes in sleep apnea management.

Objectives:

Identify the four primary endotypes of sleep apnea and their defining anatomical and physiological features.
Understand the implications of sleep apnea endotypes for diagnosis, dental treatment planning and intervention selection.
Learn how knowledge of sleep apnea endotypes can enhance patient care and optimize treatment outcomes within dental practice.

Parallel 3B
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Practical Application of Trigger Point Injections and Dry Needling in the Management of Orofacial Pain: Similarities and Differences
Denielle Medynsky, Janey Prodoehl

Break
3:15pm – 3:45pm

Debate 1

3:45pm – 4:45pm
Do We Understand the Nature of Myofasical Trigger Points?
Fernando Exposto, Michael Karegeannes

4:45pm – 5:00pm
Panel Discussion
Moderator: Elizabeth Hatfield

AAOP General Membership Meeting
5:00pm – 5:45pm
Jeff Goldberg

5:45pm – 6:15pm
Mentoring Program Reception
Requires reservation.

President’s Reception
6:15pm – 9:30pm

Plenary
8:00am – 8:45am
Tinnitus & Dizziness Demystified: A Roadmap for Dentists and Orofacial Pain Therapists
Willem De Hertogh

Bio:Prof Willem De Hertogh

Prof Willem De Hertogh is affiliated with the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Antwerp, where he is involved in both teaching and research.
In the field of education, he has a coordinating and developing role in the undergraduate and graduate courses in physiotherapy and in the postgraduate course in manual therapy.

His research questions stem from a passion for improving therapy outcomes and always have a clinical perspective. Various systematic reviews have been conducted on the effectiveness of physiotherapy treatments. For instance for conditions such as cervicogenic dizziness and tinnitus, but also for migraine and cervical dystonia.

He considers interdisciplinary collaboration vital for research. Somatosensory tinnitus was studied in a team with ENT doctors, physiotherapists, audiologists and dentists. Randomised clinical trials on this condition were certainly groundbreaking because until then there were few therapeutic options available for this condition. Chronic dizziness and specifically cervicogenic dizziness was studied in a team with ENT doctors and physiotherapists.

He is also still active as a clinician and sees patients two half-days a week. These are mainly patients with headaches, dizziness, tinnitus and neck pain.

Description:

As a clinician specializing in the head and neck area, one is often confronted with complaints such as tinnitus or dizziness. Patients want explanations, expect advice or treatment for their complaints.

To meet this demand, this lecture will provide a general overview of decision trees, pathophysiological models, diagnosis and treatment. Given the anticipated time frame and taking into account the target audience, the focus will be on somatic tinnitus, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and chronic dizziness.

Evidence-based decision trees will be presented to guide clinical practice. Understanding pathophysiology is necessary to understand clinical manifestations and explain them to the patient. Information about the diagnostic value of anamnestic items and of clinical tests is necessary to choose them or not, and to interpret them correctly. Therapeutic options are presented and whether there is evidence for them.

Objectives:

At the end of this lecture, participants will have a better understanding of:

The link between the auditory and somatic systems as an explanation for somatic tinnitus.
The interaction between different sensorimotor systems that is needed to achieve and maintain our balance.
Diagnosis and treatment of somatic tinnitus, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and chronic dizziness.

Plenary
8:45am – 9:30am
Updates in Headache Medicine
Brian McGeeney

9:30am – 10:00am | Break

Plenary
10:00am – 10:45am
Understanding the TMJ through Radiographic Imaging
Dania Tamimi

Plenary
10:45am – 11:30am
Gender Differences in Chronic Pain
Roger Fillingim

Bio:

Roger B. Fillingim, PhD

Roger B. Fillingim, PhD is a Distinguished Professor in the University of Florida (UF) College of Dentistry and Director of the UF Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence. His research investigates biological and psychosocial contributions to individual differences in pain, including the influences of sex/gender, race/ethnicity and aging on the experience of pain. Dr. Fillingim’s research has been continuously funded by the NIH since 1994, including a current MERIT award from the National Institute on Aging. For more than 12 years, Dr. Fillingim also served as a PI for the OPPERA studies, which identified multiple biopsychosocial risk factors for onset and persistence of temporomandibular disorders. He has published more than 450 peer-reviewed articles and has delivered plenary and keynote addresses at numerous national and international conferences. Dr. Fillingim also served on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee that produced the 2020 report entitled, Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD): From Research Discoveries to Clinical Treatment. Dr. Fillingim has received numerous awards, including the Wilbert E. Fordyce Clinical Investigator Award and the Distinguished Service Award, both from the American Pain Society.

Description:

Chronic pain is arguably the most prevalent and expensive health condition in the developed world. While pain affects the entire population, some population subgroups bear a disproportionate burden of pain. Specifically, women are more likely than men to experience chronic pain, and women experience more severe and disabling pain. This pattern is particularly true for chronic orofacial pain conditions, including temporomandibular disorders. This presentation will review sex differences in the epidemiology of chronic pain, including orofacial pain, as well as evidence regarding sex differences in the clinical manifestations of pain. Next, we will discuss the multiple biopsychosocial mechanisms that contribute to sex differences in pain. The presentation will conclude by summarizing implications for pain treatment and highlighting future research directions in this area.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, the learner will be able to:

Describe sex differences in the epidemiology of chronic pain.
Delineate the biological and psychosocial mechanisms contributing to sex differences in pain.
Apply this information in making decision about treatment of individuals experiencing chronic pain.

Panel Discussion
11:30am – 12:00pm
Moderator: Marcela Romero Reyes

Industry-Sponsored Lunch & Learn
12:00pm – 1:30pm
Efficacy of the NOA® Mandibular Advancement Device in the Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Fernanda Yanez Regonesi

Product Presentation
Pepe Repolles

Session supported by OrthoApnea. This session is not eligible for CE credits.

Lunch & Learn
12:00pm – 1:30pm
Conquering Coding and Insurance Challenges in Dental Sleep Medicine
Alex Vaughan

Lunch & Learn
12:00pm – 1:30pm
Clinical Tools for Managing Tinnitus & Dizziness
Willem De Hertogh

Bio:

Prof Willem De Hertogh

In the field of education, he has a coordinating and developing role in the undergraduate and graduate courses in physiotherapy and in the postgraduate course in manual therapy.

He is also still active as a clinician and sees patients two half-days a week. These are mainly patients with headaches, dizziness, tinnitus and neck pain.

Description:

This lunch and learn session continues the morning session on tinnitus and dizziness. More detailed and practical information is provided so that participants can immediately put the information gained into practice. Substantiation with scientific literature is not forgotten here.

With regard to somatic tinnitus, the diagnostic process is elaborated. Diagnostic criteria are discussed, as well as examination techniques described specifically for somatic tinnitus. Several clinical studies on the effect of physical therapy are discussed. The therapeutic modalities used in these studies are explained to enable implementation in the clinic.

With regard to dizziness, clinical research for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and chronic dizziness is explained. Various therapeutic procedures are explained, with an overview of the available evidence.

Objectives:

At the end of this lecture, participants will have a better understanding of:

The clinical reasoning process in diagnosis and therapy of somatic tinnitus.
The clinical reasoning process in patients with dizziness.
Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for people with tinnitus and/or dizziness.

Lunch & Learn
12:00pm – 1:30pm
Acupuncture in Orofacial Pain – Demonstration
James Hawkins, Steve Hargitai

Bio:

James Hawkins

Description:

Discover the transformative potential of auricular acupuncture in managing orofacial pain during our engaging lunch and learn conference. This course offers a comprehensive exploration of auricular acupuncture techniques tailored specifically for addressing orofacial pain conditions. Gain practical skills and insights to effectively integrate this holistic approach into your clinical practice, enhancing patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Objectives:

Understand the fundamentals of auricular acupuncture as it relates to orofacial pain management, including the anatomical basis of auricular points and their corresponding connections to the trigeminal nerve system.
Learn practical techniques for identifying and stimulating key auricular acupuncture points specific to orofacial pain relief, with a focus on safe and effective application within a lunch and learn setting.
Explore evidence-based research supporting the efficacy of auricular acupuncture in addressing orofacial pain conditions, enabling participants to integrate this modality into their clinical practice with confidence and competence.

Debate 2
1:30pm – 2:30pm
Is Botulinum Toxin Effective for TMD?
Steve Bender, Don Tannenbaum

Bio:

Steven D Bender DDS

Description:

The use of botulinum neurotoxins in the care of orofacial pains has become a popular topic in journal articles as well as in the press. This talk will present the available evidence that refutes some of the claims made as to the efficacy of this treatment.

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, the attendee will be able to:

Provide a rationale for the thought that the efficacy botulinum toxin therapy may be more related to placebo.
Support the assumption that botulinum toxin therapy is no better than no treatment.
Predict when botulinum toxin therapy may produce more risk than reward.

Don Tannenbaum

Bio

Donald R. Tanenbaum, DDS, MPH, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1978 and then received his DDS degree from Columbia University School of Dental Medicine, and his MPH degree from Columbia University School of Public Health in 1982. Dr. Tanenbaum currently holds several prominent positions, including: Clinical Assistant Professor at the School of Dental Medicine at the State University of New York in Stony Brook where he is the Director of the Orofacial Pain Course given to the 3^rd year dental students. He is also the Section Head of the Division of OrofacialPain/TMD/Sleep Medicine in the Northwell Health Department of Dental Medicine at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center; and Clinical Assistant Professor, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine.

Dr. Tanenbaum is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain, a Fellow of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, and a past President of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain. He currently maintains private practices in New York City and Long Island limited to the diagnosis and management of orofacial pain, temporomandibular problems and sleep related breathing disorders and has co-authored a book for the public entitled, ‘Dr, Why Does My Face Still Ache?”

Presentation Description:

In the quest to help patients suffering with muscle pain throughout the body, physicians, dentists, physical therapists and other health care practitioners draw upon a wide variety of therapeutic options in the hope of making patients feel better. It is not uncommon however, that these therapies are utilized despite a paucity of published scientific evidence, and with efficacy supported only by patient reports of feeling welcome relief. In this light, the use of Botox as a therapeutic tool to address persistent and refractory TMD symptoms of muscle origin warrants scrutiny to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to support its utilization.

To start the conversation, it is essential that ‘Myofascial TMD’ (the term chosen for this debate) will be defined as a condition of pain and tenderness in and around the masticatory muscles or referred to other proximate locations in the head and neck along with abnormalities of jaw mobility. With this established, this presentation will be designed to present evidence that Botulinum toxin as a result of it’s ability to (a) diminish the contractile activity of muscles

(b) decrease neurotransmitter release and the associated sensitization in primary nociceptive afferents in painful muscle areas, (c) diminish central hyperexcitability in the trigeminal system and (e) block the release of neuroactive substances from glial cells, can provide therapeutic benefits beyond placebo when treating ‘Myofascial TMD.’

Learning Objectives:

Shed light on how Botulinum Toxin can decrease pain intensity and pain related functional disability in the patient with persistent ‘Myofascial TMD’.
Review varied opinions about the efficacy of Botulinum Toxin for persistent ‘Myofascial TMD’ based on what muscles were injected, the dosage used, the locations targeted and the depth and distribution of the injections.
Stimulate conversation regarding how pain chronicity, the stage of the muscle disorder, gender, and psychosocial features of the patient influence the outcome of Botulinum Toxin when treating persistent ‘Myofascial TMD’.

Plenary
2:30pm – 3:15pm
Best Practices for Pediatric Orofacial Pain
Thomas Stark

Bio:

Colonel Thomas Stark

Colonel Thomas Stark graduated from dental school at the University of Iowa and completed residencies in pediatric dentistry and orofacial pain at Texas A&M University and the University of Kentucky, respectively. He is stationed at Joint Base San Antonio, TX, where he is an Associate Professor for the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Dean of the U.S. Army’s Postgraduate Dental School. He is board-certified in pediatric dentistry, orofacial pain, and special care dentistry, and he serves on multiple committees with local, national, and governmental organizations. He is the U.S. Army’s Consultant to the Surgeon General for Pediatric Dentistry, the Chair of the Council on Clinical Affairs for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and a board examiner for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Description:

This presentation is designed to offer an insider’s perspective on topics typically encountered in a pediatric practice setting. An overview of common pediatric considerations and challenges related to orofacial pain assessment and management will be provided. The goal of the presentation is to share insight into how practitioners with orofacial pain expertise can collaborate with pediatric practitioners to support an underserved and, sometimes, vulnerable population. The presentation will address topics such as evidence-based practice, pediatric bruxism, TMJ sounds, TMD/orofacial pain in the adolescent population, as well as considerations for individuals with special healthcare needs.

Objectives:

After the session, participants should be able to differentiate between best practice documents and clinical practice guidelines.
After the session, participants should be able to summarize common questions from pediatric dentists regarding children with orofacial pain.
After the session, participants should be able to provide guidance to parents and caregivers on addressing pediatric orofacial pain.

Panel Discussion
3:15pm – 3:30pm
Moderator: Aurelio Alonso

3:30pm – 4:00pm | Break

Plenary
4:00pm – 4:45pm
Evolution and Management of Burning Mouth Syndrome
Andres Pinto

Andres Pinto DMD, MPH, MSCE, MBA, is a tenured Professor, Department Chair at Case Western Reserve University, and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the same institution. He holds secondary appointments as Professor of Medicine and Otolaryngology at the School of Medicine and directs the Oral Medicine Fellowship program at The Metrohealth System in Cleveland and the MSD programs at CWRU.

Dr. Pinto received a DMD from the University of Pennsylvania and residency training in Oral Medicine at the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Penn Health System in Philadelphia. He completed additional education in Orofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine at the University of Kentucky and Tufts University and residency training in Dental Public Health at the National Institutes of Health.

He is board certified by the American Board of Oral Medicine, the American Board
of Orofacial Pain, and the European Association of Oral Medicine, and holds Fellowships from
the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (United Kingdom), the International College of Dentists, and the American Academy of Orofacial Pain. His areas of clinical expertise include mucosal disease, orofacial pain, dental sleep medicine, and pediatric oral medicine. He works collaboratively in multiple industry-funded and federal projects and published extensively in the past twenty-five years. He is an Associate Editor of Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology and a past president of the American Academy of Oral Medicine.

Plenary
4:45pm – 5:30pm
Behavioral Interventions for Insomnia in Chronic Orofacial Pain Patients
Ian Boggero

Session chair: Isabel Moreno Hay and Tom Weber

Bio:

Dr. Ian Boggero

Dr. Boggero is the Director of Psychological Services and Director of Research at the University of Kentucky Orofacial Pain Clinic. He also has joint appointments in Anesthesiology and in Psychology. He completed his undergraduate education at UCLA and obtained his Ph. D. in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky, with a graduate certificate in biostatistics. After his Ph.D. he completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center where he worked with children and families with chronic pain. His research interests are in developing brief psychological interventions for improving pain, sleep, and fatigue in patients with chronic pain. His work has been funded by the NIH and the American Psychological Association among other organizations. He has over 100 publications or poster presentations, and has been invited to give talks across the country and the world on psychological management of chronic orofacial pain. He is currently working on an NIDCR K23 award which aims to develop a brief telehealth treatment for patient with chronic masticatory muscle pain. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family, playing soccer, hiking, cooking, and reading. He would love to play you chess online (but he is not very good).

Description:

Sleep and pain are intricately related, and poor sleep is known to be both a cause and consequence of poor pain outcomes. Additionally, patients with orofacial pain patients often report overwhelming feelings of fatigue which can adversely influence both sleep and pain outcomes. Clinically assessing and treating fatigue and poor sleep can be challenging in patients with orofacial pain. In this talk, Dr. Boggero will discuss the associations between poor sleep, fatigue, and pain and will review some of the most powerful and empirically-supported brief psychological interventions for assessing and treating poor sleep and insomnia symptoms in chronic pain populations.

Objectives:

After attending this talk, attendees will be able to describe the associations of fatigue and poor sleep with pain outcomes.
Attendees will learn several methods for quickly and reliably assessing insomnia symptomatology in chronic orofacial pain patients.
Attendees will be able to list and describe empirical interventions for addressing primary insomnia in patients with comorbid chronic pain conditions.

Panel Discussion
5:30pm – 5:45pm
Moderator: Jeff Goldberg

AAOP Researcher Award
9:00am – 9:30am
Telehealth PT is Effective for Individuals with TMD
Emily Kahnert

Bio:

Emily Kahnert, DPT, CCTT

Emily Kahnert, DPT, CCTT is a Physical Therapist in the Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), Orofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine Clinic at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and a Rehabilitation Science PhD Candidate. Her 19 years of clinical practice have been exclusively focused on treating TMD and Orofacial pain in interdisciplinary settings. She earned her Certified Cervical and Temporomandibular Therapist designation through the Physical Therapy Board of Craniofacial and Cervical Therapeutics in 2019 and is part of the TMD PT Clinical Practice Guideline development group. Her dissertation examined telerehabilitation effectiveness for individuals with TMD; her research is supported by the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, the Academy of Orthopaedic PT, the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research, and the University of Minnesota Graduate school.

Description:

Telehealth PT, or telerehabilitation, could improve access to care for patients with TMD, but its effectiveness is unknown as compared to our standard of in-person care. This talk will discuss the results of an open-label preference clinical trial with >150 participants that examined the effectiveness of telerehabilitation using non-inferiority methods of analysis. Primary outcomes included physical therapist diagnostic agreement as compared to orofacial pain specialist reference diagnosis, and quality-of-life improvement as quantified by the Oral Health Impact Profile for TMD scale. Results reveal that patients want this option available to them, that they will engage in this type of care, and that telerehabilitation is an effective way to improve access to care for patients with TMD.

Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Apply non-inferiority methods of analysis in orofacial pain research.
Describe how telehealth delivery can improve access to PT.

Oral Abstract Presentations
9:30am – 10:15am
Chair: Isabel Moreno Hay

9:30am – 9:45am
Migraine and Headache Attributed to Temporomandibular Disorders: A Prospective Case-Control Study
Mayank Shrivastava

9:45am – 10:00am
Low Dose Naltrexone as a Novel Therapeutic Agent for Post-Traumatic Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain: A Retrospective Case Series
Scott Guthrie

10:00am – 10:15am
Development of a Machine-Learning-Based Screening Model for Detecting TMJ MRI Abnormalities Using TMJ Tomographic Imaging
Younjung Park

10:15am – 10:30am
Poster Awards
Chair: Isabel Moreno Hay

10:30am -11:45am
Showdown at the Evidence Corral:
What does the science say about popular TMD treatments?
Jack Botros, Micah Dowling, Andrew Mitchell, Ifrana Zaman

Bio:Andrew Mitchell, DMD

Andrew Mitchell, DMD graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry in 2017. He then completed an AEGD residency at East Carolina University. Dr. Mitchell practiced general dentistry for 4 years before returning to the University of Kentucky where he is currently the chief resident in the Orofacial Pain residency program.

Description:

Prolotherapy has been used for over 80 years to treat various temporomandibular disorders. However, there is controversy regarding its efficacy. This lecture will explore the different therapeutic agents and applications of prolotherapy. The literature will be critically analyzed and evidence supporting or refuting prolotherapy as a treatment will be presented. At the conclusion of the lecture, attendees will be familiar with the history, proposed mechanisms of action, and the available evidence regarding the therapeutic benefit of prolotherapy for temporomandibular disorders.

Objectives:

Recognize the treatment goals of prolotherapy.
Describe the proposed mechanisms of action of prolotherapy.
Identify the various therapeutic agents used.
Analyze the scientific evidence of the therapeutic benefit of prolotherapy for temporomandibular disorders.

Jack Botros

Showdown at the Evidence Corral: What does the science say?

Bio

Dr. Jack Botros is a senior resident of orofacial pain and oral medicine at the University of Southern California. He earned his dental degree at Alexandria University, Egypt, then he completed a Master of Science focused on temporomandibular disorders at McGill University, Canada. His research interests include TMD comorbidities, neuropathic pain, and bruxism. Dr. Botros has published in peer-reviewed journals and won several academic awards.

Description

Since the ancient times of China and Egypt, cannabis has been used to relieve pain. Recently, it has been getting more traction in the clinical as well as research settings for chronic pain management. Studies have found that cannabis products can be effective for pain reduction in fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis but what about orofacial pain? In this talk, we will delve into the cannabis literature to answer some burning questions about its effectiveness and potential use for orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this talk, the audience will be able to answer the following questions:

What are the different types of medicinal cannabis products used for chronic pain management?
What are their proposed mechanisms of action?
What is the evidence for its use in orofacial pain conditions?

Micah Dowling

Showdown at the Evidence Corral: What does the science say about popular TMD treatments?

Bio:

Micah Dowling, DMD earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Presbyterian College, where she also played Division I college golf. She then earned her dental degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Dowling practiced general dentistry for 5 years where she discovered her passion for helping those with orofacial pain and sleep-related breathing disorders while working in a multidisciplinary practice in her hometown in Florida. In 2022, Dr. Dowling entered orofacial pain residency at the University of Kentucky and she looks forward to serving her community as an orofacial pain specialist upon completion of residency in June 2024.

Description:

The use of ultrasound for therapeutic purposes dates back to the 1950s where it was primarily used for tendonitis and bursitis. Therapeutic ultrasound is a modality based on the application of high-frequency sound waves that can be used as part of a comprehensive intervention strategy for patients with varying conditions. Clinicians commonly use therapeutic ultrasound to decrease soft tissue inflammation (tendonitis and bursitis), increase tissue extensibility, enhance scar remodeling, increase soft tissue healing, and decrease musculoskeletal pain. The various parameters of ultrasound allow versatility and are adjusted based on the target area and desired treatment goal. Based on each patient’s unique needs, therapeutic ultrasound may be introduced as a modality, and the evidence surrounding its role in the management of myofascial pain in the head and neck region will be reviewed.

Learning objectives

1. Understand therapeutic ultrasound parameters and how they affect treatment and clinical goals.
2. Become familiar with the technique and general treatment strategy.
3. Discover the indications for therapeutic ultrasound.
4. Review the evidence surrounding therapeutic ultrasound being used to target orofacial pain conditions.

11:45am – 12:00pm
Panel Discussion
Moderators: Tom Weber, Ian Boggero

12:00pm – 12:15pm
Closing Remarks and 2025 Preview
Mariona Mulet, Seema Kurup

Inaugural Condyle Classic

Join US! Sunday, May 12, 2024 | Talking Stick Golf Club

Time: 2:00 PM tee time
Cost: $95 per person + $75 club rental
To sign up, email Micah Dowling at drmicahdowling@gmail.com
To pay over the phone, call the club directly at (480) 860-2221 talkingstickgolfclub.com

AAOP 2024 Registration brochure

Accommodations

Thank You to All Who Attend!

American Academy of Orofacial Pain is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. American Academy of Orofacial Pain designates this activity for 1.0 continuing education credits.

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Thank You to All Who Attend!

Schedule

Pre-conference Workshops

Scientific Program

Thank You to All Who Attend!

Pre-conference
Workshops

Scientific
Program