WHAT IS OROFACIAL PAIN?
Orofacial Pain (OFP) is the specialty of dentistry that encompasses the diagnosis, management and treatment of pain disorders of the jaw, mouth, face, head and neck. The specialty of OFP is dedicated to the evidenced-based understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, etiology, prevention, and treatment of these disorders and improving access to interdisciplinary patient care.
OFP associated 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.
Contact an Orofacial Pain Specialist Today via the AAOP Member Directory
At the direction of the AAOP president, the Access to Care Committee has completed a review of the current regulations regarding Orofacial Pain specialty recognition of all the States and US Territories. To view the summary please select the links below:
ADA Licensure Interactive Dashboard - A guide dental licensure including: Initial Licensure, CE/License Renewal, License by Credential, and Specialty Licensure in each US State & Territory.
Summary of OFP Specialty Status for US States and Territories
There is generally very little consistency between state dental practice acts and dental board policies within each state. This summary is provided for informational purposes only. The AAOP encourages member updates with regard to this summary and cautions that it is each member’s responsibility to confirm your state’s legal requirements with your state’s licensing authority before declaring or advertising as a specialist in orofacial pain. Please submit any updates to the AAOP office at aaopexec@aaop.org including supporting documentation, links and/or references.
AAOP Statement Regarding the Standard of Recognition for an Orofacial Pain Dental Specialist
The American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP) standard for a specialist in Orofacial Pain (OFP) is a licensed dentist (DDS, DMD or equivalent degree) who has demonstrated an exceptional understanding of the diagnosis, management and treatment of orofacial pain through graduate or post graduate training, research or clinical experience and meets one or more of the following standards:
- Is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP)
- Has successfully completed a formal advanced education program in Orofacial Pain of at least two years that is now accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
- Has passed the American Board of Orofacial Pain (ABOP) Certification Examination.
and adheres to the all legal requirements in accordance with the laws and regulations of their competent licensing and jurisdictional authority (state licensing administration/state dental board/commission, etc.).
Ultimately each states’ jurisdictional licensing authority (state dental boards/commissions) holds the legal authority for recognizing and standardizing the requirements for specialty declarations in their respective states/provinces etc. and we encourage you to be familiar with all of the legal requirements stipulated by your licensing authority.
The AAOP and ABOP, while distinct organizations, maintain a close working relationship with regard to the dental specialty of orofacial pain.
The American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP) is a professional organization of dentists and allied health care providers, dedicated to alleviating pain and suffering through the promotion of excellence in education, research, and patient care in the field of orofacial pain and associated disorders. The AAOP is sponsoring organization for the ADA National Commission of Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards (NCRDSCB) for the dental specialty of Orofacial Pain. Orofacial Pain is the specialty of dentistry that encompasses the diagnosis, management and treatment of pain disorders of the jaw, mouth, face, head and neck. The specialty of Orofacial Pain is dedicated to the evidenced-based understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, etiology, prevention, and treatment of these disorders and improving access to interdisciplinary patient care.
The American Board of Orofacial Pain (ABOP) is an organization of dentists dedicated to enhancing the quality of care and service to the public through a validated certification process of dentists in the field of Orofacial Pain. Therefore, the ABOP represents the examining and certifying organization for qualified providers to meet the standards for appropriate orofacial pain care. The American Board of Orofacial Pain is the sole Certifying Board recognized by the American Academy of Orofacial Pain and the National Commission of Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards (NCRDSCB).
OROFACIAL PAIN ADVISORY STATEMENT
Orofacial Pain (OFP) is the specialty of Dentistry, adopted by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards in 2020, that encompasses the diagnosis, management, and treatment of pain disorders of the jaw, mouth, face, and associated regions including, but not limited to, over thirty temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders as well as various neuropathies, neuralgias, primary headaches, allostatic factors related to orofacial pain, and sleep disorders as they relate to orofacial pain and dysfunction. The specialty of OFP is dedicated to the evidenced-based understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, etiology, prevention, and management of these disorders according to the current parameters of care that have been determined by the expert community of researchers and clinicians who share their evidence-based findings in respected journals and texts. 1-3
OFP specialists may employ a combination of diagnostic modalities that may include a detailed and extensive clinical evaluation, diagnostic tests such as obtaining or referring for appropriate imaging (CBCT, CT, MRI, etc.), and/or ordering and interpreting appropriate serologic tests. Based on the differential diagnosis derived from data gathered during the diagnostic process, OFP specialists provide evidence-based treatments such as self-care training and counseling to control risk factors and reduce symptoms. In addition, they may provide intra-oral orthotic appliances, physical therapies, trigger point injections and trigeminal division blocks, medications (gabapentinoids, SNRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, muscle relaxants, etc.), and other treatments. When appropriately indicated, OFP specialists may refer for surgical intervention or may provide surgical procedures in which they have been adequately trained. Due to the complexity of many orofacial pain conditions, OFP specialists may coordinate and collaborate care with the patient’s primary medical and dental providers and other health care professionals to support and promote patient-centered care. Orofacial Pain specialists are also trained to collaborate with sleep physicians in the management of obstructive airway sleep breathing disorders, such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
The American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP) has established the standards for qualifications as specialist in Orofacial Pain to be a licensed dentist (DDS, DMD or equivalent degree) who has demonstrated an exceptional understanding of the diagnosis, management, and treatment of orofacial pain through advanced training, research, and clinical experience. While the AAOP recognizes a current Fellow in good standing of the AAOP, a licensed dentist who has completed an accredited post-graduate residency program in Orofacial Pain by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or an equivalent pathway, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain (ABOP) as a legitimate orofacial pain specialist, it encourages all eligible orofacial pain specialists to become fully credentialed through the ABOP. However, the AAOP recognizes the ultimate authority of local licensing bodies to determine specialty status within their individual jurisdictions.
REFERENCES
- American Academy of Orofacial Pain (De Leeuw R, et al, eds). Orofacial Pain. Guidelines for Assessment, Diagnosis and Management. Ed 7. Hanover Park, IL: Quintessence Publishing, Inc. 2023. (Updated every five years.)
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Temporomandibular Disorders: Priorities for Research and Care. Commission Report. 2020. https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/temporomandibular-disorders-tmd-from-research-discoveries-to-clinical-treatment. Accessed July 11, 2022.
- Schiffman E, Ohrbach R. Executive summary of the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders for clinical and research applications. JADA 2016 Jun;147(6):438-45. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2016.01.007. Epub 2016 Feb 26. PMID: 26922248; PMCID: PMC4884471.
Advisory Statement Supplemental Information