LECTURE
“Triaging the Facial Pain Patient: From Diagnosis to Management Strategies”
with Dr. Steven Bender
Friday, October 27, 2017, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, October 28, 2017, 8 a.m. – 12 noon
By far, the most common reason patients seek care in a medical or dental setting is for pain.
At least 22% of the population has suffered from facial pain more than once in the past 6 months with the highest prevalence in the 18- to 25-year-old age group.
Oral and facial pains may be due to disease of the orofacial structures, musculoskeletal system, peripheral or central nervous system, or possibly, the manifestation of psychosocial disorders.
These pain conditions can be primary in presentation or secondary due to referral from other sources such as cervical or intracranial structures.
The diversity of these numerous structures and their complex innervations are potentially responsible for the sometimes-puzzling symptomatology these patients present with.
In order to effectively treat the facial pain patient; a systematic approach to examination must be a part of the diagnostic process.
This course will provide the clinician with a cursory background of pain definitions, classifications and presentations commonly seen in the head, face and oral cavity regions.
The second portion of this course will discuss management strategies of some of the most frequently encountered facial pain presentations.
This activity will be enhanced with real patient case presentations designed to encourage discussion. It is encouraged for the participants to bring some of their most challenging cases for group discussion.
At the conclusion of this course, the clinician should feel comfortable with the process necessary to adequately screen, treat or refer this often-misdiagnosed group of patients.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Learn the classifications of pain
- Recognize pain presentations in the oral and facial region and common referral patterns
- Establish diagnostic procedures and office protocols for patients with chronic facial pain
- Review evidence-based treatment protocols for different chronic facial pain conditions
- Know when and how to work with other specialties and when it’s best to refer
COURSE OUTLINE
- Introduction: what is orofacial pain
- Epidemiology of orofacial pain
- Classifications of pain
- Introduction to assessment strategies
- Orofacial pain presentations:
- musculoskeletal
- neuropathic
- burning mouth syndrome
- primary headache disorders “the red flags”
- Management strategies for orofacial pain conditions with case studies
