Orofacial Pain Disorders-Orofacial Pain Disorders

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Video Summary

Dr. Shauna K. Kim’s webinar on oral facial pain disorders focused on helping dentists distinguish dental pain from non-dental causes. She emphasized that many patients experience delayed diagnoses, often after seeing multiple providers and undergoing unnecessary procedures.<br /><br />The lecture covered a systematic approach to evaluation: detailed history, physical exam, dental testing, and when to order imaging or lab work. Major topics included myofascial pain, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), neuropathic pain such as trigeminal neuralgia, headache disorders, and red-flag conditions requiring urgent referral.<br /><br />Dr. Kim highlighted how trigger points in facial and neck muscles can refer pain to teeth, jaw, or head, and how TMJ symptoms may reflect arthritis or systemic disease rather than local dysfunction. She also discussed the limited role of botulinum toxin for pain and bruxism, stressing careful patient selection.<br /><br />A recurring message was that oral facial pain is often a diagnosis of exclusion and requires interdisciplinary care. She urged dentists to avoid over-reliance on odontogenic explanations, recognize warning signs like vision changes or bilateral facial pain, and refer early when symptoms don’t fit a typical dental pattern.

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Description Orofacial pain affects millions of patients, yet many cases remain misdiagnosed or inadequately treated. This comprehensive lecture will equip general dentists with the knowledge and tools to confidently identify, evaluate and manage common orofacial pain conditions while recognizing when specialist referral is appropriate. Learning Objectives Differentiate between odontogenic and non-odontogenic orofacial pain through systematic clinical assessment. Identify red flags and warning signs that require immediate attention or specialist referral. Implement evidence-based diagnostic protocols for temporomandibular disorders, trigeminal neuralgia and atypical facial pain. Apply practical treatment strategies for common orofacial pain conditions within the scope of general practice. Speaker Bio Shanna K. Kim, DDS, is a diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain and runs a practice limited to orofacial pain disorders and dental sleep medicine. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry’s Orofacial Pain Residency and is recognized as a “Top Dentist in Orofacial Pain” by Phoenix Magazine. She serves as clinical instructor at the University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine and currently practices at Nevada Orofacial Pain, TMJ and Sleep Clinic in Sparks, Nevada.

Keywords

oral facial pain

temporomandibular disorders

myofascial pain

trigeminal neuralgia

dental diagnosis

trigger points

botulinum toxin

interdisciplinary care

red-flag symptoms