Wednesday, February 15

10:00 - 1:30 a.m. Cases in Orofacial Pain: Differential Diagnosis 

CE: 1.5

Orofacial pain was declared as an ADA recognized specialty in March 2020. One of the main

reasons this recognition came about, is the realization of the fact that globally, the level of pain education in dental schools is either abysmally small or non-existent. This is a broad review that explains orofacial pain as the 12th specialty recognized by the ADA and describes the entities that an orofacial pain specialist is equipped to manage. In our careers, dentists come across several situations in which multiple dental procedures are performed in an attempt to alleviate “dental” pain, many a times ending with failure to manage the pain. This presentation forms the primer for dentists to understand what the specialty of orofacial pain encompasses.

The Topics covered:

  1. Non-odontogenic pain: differential diagnoses; when should you refer?
  2. The scope of orofacial pain: what a general dentist and specialist can do?
  3. Orofacial pain as it relates to the other specialties in dentistry.

 

Learning objectives

  1. To have a fundamental knowledge in Orofacial Pain, the 12th ADA recognized specialty

of dentistry

  1. Understand non-dental pain conditions that a general dentist and specialist can encounter

in their practices

  1. To learn about non-odontogenic tooth aches (dental pain that does not originate from the

tooth) that are most misdiagnosed with disastrous results for both the patient and the

clinician

  1. To understand the concept of how conditions of non-dental nature that mimic tooth aches,

and screen early for such entities

 

Wednesday, February 15

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Dental Sleep Medicine: A Primer for Dentists 

CE: 1.5

There have been explosive advancements in the field of sleep medicine and dental sleep medicine over the past few decades. The effect of sleep disorders, sleep related bruxism, obstructive sleep apnea, and snoring on dental and craniofacial structures will be broadly reviewed.

 

Learning objectives

  1. To have a overview of dental sleep medicine, sleep related bruxism, and dental

implications of sleep disorders

  1. To review screening of routine dental patients for obstructive sleep apnea
  2. To briefly review the principles of sleep related and awake bruxism
  3. Possible applications of this knowledge in a general, specialty, and orofacial pain practice

 

Dr. Davis Thomas

Dr. Davis Thomas completed his Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from India and received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and one year of Advanced Education in General Dentistry from NYU. Throughout his 20 years in private practice, Dr Thomas obtained multiple master’s degrees including orofacial pain (Rutgers University), headache pain management (University of Edinburgh), and sleep medicine (University of Sydney). As an assistant clinical professor (14 years), Dr. Thomas now continues his research in Pain Management at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and Eastman Dental Center, Rochester, New York. Dr. Thomas lectures extensively all around the world. He has been a commissioned officer in the United Sates Army since 2001. He has multiple faculty appointments in national and international hospitals and universities. Currently, he is the director for OFP/TMD/Sleep medicine courses for Roseman University/Smile USA Academy.