This course is designed to provide an in-depth overview and hands-on experience in the diagnosis and management of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in clinical practice. The program will educate attendees on the essential concepts that encompass the field of TMD and will establish a strong foundation for clinical decision-making, enabling participants to confidently evaluate patients and sharpen their clinical skills.

This course includes 11.5 hours of in-person learning content, divided between didactic lectures delivered by leading experts in the field of orofacial pain and clinical, hands-on interactive components. Participants will learn how to conduct a comprehensive clinical history, perform a thorough physical examination, and apply the essentials of trigger point injections and botulinum toxin techniques.

Clinical cases will be presented and discussed in an interactive format, with small group discussions offered during lunch to enhance peer-to-peer learning and faculty engagement. In addition, attendees will receive complimentary access to more than 11 hours of asynchronous lectures to further deepen their understanding of orofacial pain and support continued education beyond the live session.

Course Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify the basic concepts and terminology used in the areas of TMD and OFP
• Outline the etiology, pathophysiology, contributing biopsychosocial factors, diagnoses, and treatment planning for TMD and OFP conditions
• Identify the bidirectional relationship between sleep disorders and TMD/OFP
• Describe the role of imaging in the diagnosis of TMD and select appropriate imaging modalities based on patient presentation
• Comprehend the basic principles of multidisciplinary clinical management in TMD and OFP
• Identify red flags that may indicate non-TMD disorders and determine when referral to the appropriate healthcare provider is warranted
• Understand the relevance and implementation of various therapeutic approaches
• Assess patient complexity and outline a stepwise approach to clinical management for patients with TMD
• Utilize sleep screening tools to identify sleep disorders
• Implement readily available conservative treatment measures for all TMD patients
• Understand the relevance and application of various therapeutic approaches, including behavioral, pharmacologic, physical medicine, and interventional strategies

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Registration Information:

Your registration includes:

• 11.5 hours of live, in-person didactic content and hands-on experience
• 11 hours of asynchronous online learning, available through learn.aaop.org only for those registered for this course
• Two-night hotel stay at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center
• Meals with faculty, including:
  • Welcome Reception on Thursday (11/5/26) evening
  • Breakfast and lunch on Friday (11/6) and Saturday (11/7)
  • Dinner on Friday

Note: If you live within an hour of the course venue and would like to stay in your own home, please contact AAOP's Education Coordinator, Liz Newman at liz@aaop.org for assistance in registering at a lower rate.

Cancellation Policy: AAOP does not anticipate needing to cancel this course, but in the unlikelihood that this is necessary, all registrants will receive a full refund. Registrants may cancel their registration and receive a full refund up until 30 days prior to the start of the course.

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The 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, not does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.

AAOP has designated this course for 22.5 continuing education credits. The in-person elements account for 11.4 credits and participants may earn up to 11 additional credits through self-study of recommended modules through AAOP's online learning platform, learn.aaop.org.

In this special episode, Dr. Pratishtha Mishra hosts a conversation with Dr. Michele Schultz and Dr. Isabel Moreno-Hay marking 50 years of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain — reflections, insights, and a look ahead at the future of the field. A conversation that connects memorable moments with where the specialty is headed, and the people who have shaped it along the way.

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate primary headache disorders from orofacial pain conditions and recognize red flags for secondary causes.
• Select appropriate acute treatments, including triptans, based on headache type and patient-specific factors.
• Implement preventative therapies, including CGRP-targeted treatments and TCAs, using current evidence.
• Apply safe prescribing principles and strategies to avoid medication overuse headache.
• Integrate pharmacologic and interdisciplinary approaches to optimize patient care.

Session Description:

This webinar provides a comprehensive overview of current approaches to the treatment of primary headache disorders, with a focus on migraine and cluster headache management. It reviews the goals of acute (abortive) migraine therapy, emphasizing rapid pain relief, restoration of function, and minimization of recurrence. Common first-line treatments, including NSAIDs and triptans, are discussed alongside their efficacy, mechanisms of action, and important contraindications—particularly in patients with cardiovascular disease.

The program also outlines indications for initiating preventive therapy, highlighting its role in patients with frequent or disabling migraines. Traditional preventive options such as beta blockers, antidepressants, and antiepileptic drugs are reviewed, as well as newer therapies including CGRP monoclonal antibodies and small molecule CGRP antagonists.

In addition, the webinar explores non-pharmacologic and device-based treatments, such as neuromodulation technologies, which offer both acute and preventive benefits for select patients. Special considerations for treating migraines in unique populations—including pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, pediatric patients, and those with renal, hepatic, or cardiovascular comorbidities—are addressed.

Overall, the session equips clinicians with evidence-based strategies to optimize individualized headache management and improve patient outcomes.

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The 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.

AAOP has designated this activity for 1 continuing education credit.

Non-odontogenic orofacial pain remains one of the most challenging and frequently mismanaged conditions in clinical practice. Patients often undergo multiple irreversible dental procedures despite normal findings, while the true pain mechanism, neuropathic, centralized, autonomic, or headache-related remains unrecognized. This lecture examines the diagnostic and therapeutic pitfalls that drive treatment failure and patient frustration. Through a mechanism-based framework grounded in the International Classification of Orofacial Pain, attendees will explore how central sensitization, trigeminal autonomic interactions, and overlapping phenotypes complicate clinical decision-making. Evidence-based pharmacologic strategies, interventional considerations including sphenopalatine ganglion block will be critically evaluated. Real-world case reports will illustrate how precise pain classification can redirect care and prevent unnecessary procedures. This session is designed for clinicians seeking greater diagnostic confidence, clearer therapeutic algorithms, and a deeper understanding of why conventional approaches often fail in non-odontogenic pain management.

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate odontogenic from non-odontogenic orofacial pain using specific clinical findings and diagnostic criteria.
• Identify and categorize key mechanisms contributing to treatment-resistant non-odontogenic pain, including neuropathic, centralized, and trigeminal–autonomic processes.
• Formulate a mechanism-based management plan for non-odontogenic orofacial pain that aligns treatment strategies with the patient’s pain phenotype.

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The 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, not does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.

AAOP has designated this webinar for 1 continuing education credit.

Learn to identify when Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) may be contributing to disrupted sleep, fragmented treatment outcomes, or ongoing fatigue in patients treated for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize key signs and symptoms of RLS that may present in dental practice
• Describe the relationship between RLS and OSA and sleep bruxism
• Understand the basics of RLS evaluation and management in sleep medicine clinics

Dear AAOP Members,

Membership includes online access to our official journal Cranio: The Journal of Craniomandibular & Sleep Practice.  Members will need to access this course each time they request access to the journal.   Other journal related resources are available including a special conversation with Drs. Paul Durham and me interviewing Dr. Daniele Manfredini, Editor-in-Chief of Cranio: The Journal of Craniomandibular & Sleep Practice.

In this informative webinar, Dr. Manfredini will offer a historical overview of Cranio and highlight the journal’s recent positive developments. He will also share valuable insights on various publishing models, comparing restricted and open access approaches. Additionally, Dr. Manfredini will discuss submission guidelines, the peer-review process, and manuscript acceptance, along with exciting opportunities for collaboration between Cranio and the AAOP.

We are also looking for manuscript reviewers! If you are interested in contributing, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Mariona Mulet, DDS, MS

President, American Academy of Orofacial Pain

This episode continues our two-part Coast to Coast series, spotlighting CODA-accredited Orofacial Pain training programs across the country. Episode 2 shifts to the Midwest and East Coast, where hosts Dr. Pratishtha Mishra and Dr. Jasjot Sahni speak with two program directors leading established OFP residencies: Dr. Alberto Malacarne, Program Director of the Orofacial Pain Advanced Education Program at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and Dr. Liz Hatfield, Program Director of the TMD & Orofacial Pain Residency at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

They discuss the evolution and structure of their programs, what resident training looks like in their institutions, and how mentorship and interdisciplinary collaboration shape the learning experience. They also share perspectives on career pathways and the continued growth of Orofacial Pain within academic and clinical settings.

This webinar will provide an in-depth overview of the physiological endotypes of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and how these underlying mechanisms influence treatment response. We will discuss key traits such as anatomy, upper-airway muscle responsiveness, arousal threshold, and ventilatory control stability, and explore how these endotypes can be used to personalize therapy. Clinical applications will include predicting response to oral appliance therapy, hypoglossal nerve stimulation, positional therapy, and pharmacologic approaches.

Learning Objectives:

• Define and describe the major physiological endotypes of OSA, including anatomical compromise, muscle responsiveness, arousal threshold, and loop gain
• Explain how endotypic traits contribute to OSA treatment responses
• Identify which endotypes are associated with improved or reduced treatment success for interventions such as oral appliance therapy and hypoglossal nerve stimulation
• Apply endotype-based reasoning to inform clinical decision-making and enhance treatment selection and patient counseling

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the clinical presentation of TMJ arthritis in JIA, including subtle signs and impacts on growth/occlusion
• Select and interpret appropriate imaging, emphasizing contrast-enhanced MRI for active synovitis and effusion
• Differentiate active inflammatory disease from chronic structural changes and relate findings to prognosis
• Outline a stepwise management approach including medical therapy, intra-articular options, and orthodontic considerations

This episode is the first in a two-part Coast to Coast series, spotlighting CODA-accredited Orofacial Pain training programs across the country. Episode 1 focuses on the West Coast, where hosts Dr. Pratishtha Mishra and Dr. Jasjot Sahni speak with two program directors leading established OFP residencies: Dr. Mariela Padilla from USC and Dr. Sherwin Arman from UCLA.

They discuss their paths into Orofacial Pain, the structure of their programs, what day-to-day resident life looks like, and how mentorship and career development are supported. They also share insights on the growing overlap with sleep and headache medicine, along with advice for future specialists and for schools aiming to build OFP training.

Whether you are a dental student, resident, or clinician seeking clarity on CODA-accredited Orofacial Pain programs, this episode offers a clear look at two respected West Coast training models and the directors guiding them.

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This podcast is not eligible for continuing education credits.