What is orofacial pain?
Orofacial pain is a general term describing pain felt in the face, mouth, jaws, head and neck. There are many different causes of orofacial pain, some of which are complex. The pain is often accompanied by dysfunction.
What is an orofacial pain specialist?
Orofacial pain specialists diagnose, manage, and treat pain disorders of the mouth, jaw, face, head and neck. Orofacial pain specialists complete formal hospital-based residency programs where they receive advanced training in the field. It is common for orofacial pain specialists to also receive training in dental sleep medicine due to the close relationship between sleep and pain. After completing residency, many individuals seek to become board certified, which requires successful completion of both written and oral examinations.