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From the Editor's Desk

A New Speciality-OFP

The American Dental Association recently recognized orofacial pain (OFP) as the dental profession’s twelfth specialty. The American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP) defines OFP as ‘the specialty of dentistry that encompasses the diagnosis, management, and treatment of pain disorders of the jaw, mouth, face and associated regions.” The AAOP clarifies that “OFP disorders include but are not limited to temporomandibular muscle and joint (TMJ) disorders, jaw movement disorders, neuropathic and neurovascular pain disorders, headache, and sleep disorders.” It has taken me a few decades of being a general dentist, but I have confidence that I will be able to readily help any dental emergency patient who arrives, sometimes with tears in their eyes, to relieve their suffering. We dentists are good at managing acute pain! However, my confidence waivers when a chronic pain patient complains of neurogenic pain, headaches or sleep disorders not related to sleep apnea. In this past year, I have referred several patients to an orofacial pain specialist and have been impressed with the ‘systems-wide’ dental-medical treatment these patients received. For these people, to be relieved of suffering brings back the joy in life that had once been lost. The authors in this issue of the Nugget present an expanded view of dentistry—treatment of the whole person, taking into account psychological and social factors rather than just the symptoms of a disease. Lets roll out the red gauze (I could not resist) to the new specialty of orofacial pain, put down our handpieces and forceps for a moment, and welcome these highly-trained dentists who can help when the patient says, “doc, I have this gnawing pain that will not go away, I have had teeth pulled, it did not help, I have been to a number of physicians and dentists, and no one seems to know what to do!.” “I know someone who can help you.” 

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In this past year, I have referred several patients to an orofacial pain specialist and have been impressed with the ‘systems-wide’ dentalmedical treatment these patients received.

By James C. Cope, DDS

Associate Editor

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