Temporomandibular Disorders Education for Awareness and Management (TEAM)

Includes Multiple Live Events. The next is on 11/06/2026 at 8:00 AM (EST)

Register
- Early bird pricing available!
- Non-member - $2,100
- Active Member - $2,100
- Affiliate Member - $2,100
- Fellow Member - $2,100
- Student Member - $2,100
- Honorary Member - $2,100
- Retired Member - $2,100
- Lifetime Fellow Member - $2,100
- Regular Price after 06/01/2026 12:59 AM
- Non-member - $2,500
- Active Member - $2,500
- Affiliate Member - $2,500
- Fellow Member - $2,500
- Student Member - $2,500
- Honorary Member - $2,500
- Retired Member - $2,500
- Lifetime Fellow Member - $2,500
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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.

Steve Bender

DDS

Dr. Steve Bender is a retired Associate Professor from Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas Texas where he directed the Facial Pain and Sleep Medicine Clinic. Currently he serves as a guest lecturer for the LSU orofacial pain residency program. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain and has earned Fellowships in the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, the American Headache Society, and the American College of Dentists. In addition, he is a past president of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas in 1986 and then studied orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders at the Parker E Mahan Facial Pain Center at the University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville Florida from 1998 to 2000. Since that time, his practice was limited to the diagnosis and management of orofacial pains. Dr. Bender currently serves as an Associate Editor for CRANIO® The Journal of Craniomandibular & Sleep Practice. He has also published numerous peer reviewed articles and contributed multiple book chapters. Dr. Bender is a frequent invited presenter for both dental and medical conferences.

Dr. Bender has disclosed no financial relationships/interests that would represent a conflict of interest.

Mridul Chakarvarty, DDS

Emily Kahnert, PT, DPT, PhD, CCTT

Emily Kahnert, PT, DPT, PhD, CCTT is a Physical Therapist and clinician scientist in the Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), Orofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine Clinic at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and UMN Physical Therapy Program. Her 21 years of clinical practice have been exclusively focused on treating TMD and Orofacial pain in interdisciplinary settings. She earned her Certified Cervical and Temporomandibular Therapist designation through the Physical Therapy Board of Craniofacial and Cervical Therapeutics in 2019 and is part of the TMD PT Clinical Practice Guideline development group. Her PhD work examined telerehabilitation effectiveness for individuals with TMD, and she is active in teaching and ongoing clinical research examining rehabilitation for patients with orofacial pain.

Dr. Kahnert disclosed no financial relationships/interests that represent possible conflicts of interest.

Isabel Moreno Hay, DDS, PhD

Dr. Moreno Hay is currently the Division Chief and Program Director of Orofacial Pain at the College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky. She is an Associate Professor at the College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky. She obtained her dental degree from the University Complutense of Madrid, School of Dentistry (Spain). Dr. Moreno graduated from the 2-year CODA approved program in Orofacial Pain at the University of Kentucky in 2013. She became a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain in 2015, and Diplomate of the American Board Dental Sleep Medicine. She is currently the President Elect of the AAOP and Chair of the Scientific Committee of the SEDCYDO. She is also an active member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. She has published several research articles in peer reviewed journals, book chapters, and has lectured in scientific national and international meetings.

Dr. Moreno Hay disclosed a financial relationship with AbbVie in the form of a research grant. The amount of the grant is modest. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

Mariona Mulet Pradera, DDS, MS

Dr. Mariona Mulet Pradera is an orofacial pain specialist in St Paul, MN. She is board-certified by the American Board of Orofacial Pain (ABOP) and by the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM). She has dedicated her career to the field of orofacial pain since 2001, and provides care to orofacial pain patients in a multidisciplinary clinical setting at Health Partners Group in Minnesota. She is also the Associate Program Director of the Orofacial Pain Graduate Program at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. She is currently the immediate past president of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP).

Dr. Mulet Pradera has not disclosed any financial interests/relationships that could represent a conflict of interest.

Thomas Weber

Lieutenant Colonel

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Weber (USAF) – Dr. Weber serves as Director of Orofacial Pain at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, TX. He received his certificate in Orofacial Pain from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry in 2014. Dr. Weber is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain and a fellow of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain.

Dr. Weber has not disclosed any financial interest/relationship that would represent a conflict of interest.