Dental Health What Is an Orofacial Pain Specialist? By Aubrey Bailey, PT, DPT, CHT Aubrey Bailey, PT, DPT, CHT Aubrey Bailey, PT, DPT, CHT is a physical therapist with over 20 years of experience in a variety of healthcare settings. Learn about our editorial process Published on January 09, 2023 Medically reviewed by John Carew, MD Medically reviewed by John Carew, MD LinkedIn Twitter John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology and is an adjunct assistant professor at New York University Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What They Treat Procedural Expertise Training & Certification Finding a Specialist An orofacial pain specialist (OFP) is a dentist specializing in diagnosing and treating conditions that cause pain in the jaw, face, head, and neck. These specialists focus on identifying causes of pain outside of the typical toothache. Orofacial pain specialists undergo additional training and must pass a board exam to be certified. This article discusses orofacial pain specialists—who they are, what they do, their training, and their certification. Zhenjin Li / Getty Images Orofacial Pain Specialty Orofacial pain was formally recognized as the 12th specialty in dentistry on March 31, 2020, by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards. What Do They Treat? Orofacial pain specialists treat conditions that cause pain in the jaw, mouth, face, neck, and head. These conditions can be caused by muscles, nerves, joints, or blood vessels. In addition to pain, orofacial pain conditions can cause other symptoms, such as: Headaches Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) Decreased coordination with movement Itching or tingling sensations Dizziness Dentists in general practice treat tooth issues that cause acute (sharp and sudden) pain. Conditions treated by an orofacial pain specialist are typically chronic (long term) and are usually caused by structures other than the teeth. Tooth Pain: Causes, Treatment, and When to See a Dentist The International Classification of Orofacial Pain (ICOP)—the first internationally recognized system for classifying facial pain, established in 2020—recognizes six subgroups of facial pain, which are: Orofacial pain from disorders of dentoalveolar and anatomically related structures (such as dental pain or pain from the jaw bone, glands, or mucosa in the mouth) Myofascial orofacial pain (caused by trigger points in muscles) Pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) Pain caused by injury or disease of the cranial nerves (trigeminal or glossopharyngeal nerves) Orofacial pain that resembles symptoms of primary headaches (i.e., orofacial migraine, neurovascular pain) Idiopathic (unknown cause) orofacial pain Understanding Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) Orofacial pain specialists can also treat sleep bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), which contributes to other sleep-related medical conditions such as: Snoring Obstructive sleep apnea Insomnia Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder Restless legs syndrome (RLS) Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) The temporomandibular joints connect your jaw to your skull. Located in front of your ears, these joints are a common source of orofacial pain. TMD is often caused by:Myofascial pain (issues with muscles in the jaw or surrounding areas)Degenerative joint disease (such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis)Internal joint derangement (dislocation of bones or cartilage in the joint or injury to the bones themselves) What Is Temporomandibular Joint Disorder? Procedural Expertise Orofacial pain specialists use a variety of treatment interventions, some of which require additional training. Examples include: Prescription medicationsFabrication of mouth appliancesExercise instructionOral surgerySteroid injectionsBotox (onabotulinumtoxin-A) injectionsBiofeedbackCognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)Training in relaxation techniques Orofacial pain specialists also refer patients to other healthcare providers for complementary treatment, such as: Physical therapists Acupuncturists Chiropractors Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctors Neurologists Occupational therapists Psychologists Neurosurgeons Sleep specialists Training and Certification According to the American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP), orofacial pain specialists are licensed dentists who demonstrate expertise in diagnosing and treating orofacial pain through formal education, clinical experience, or research. In addition, one or more of the following standards must be met: Completing at least two years of formal advanced education in orofacial pain, accredited by the Commission on Dental AccreditationBeing a fellow of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP)Passing the American Board of Orofacial Pain (ABOP) Certification Examination The American Academy of Orofacial Pain The AAOP is an organization that focuses on education, research, and excellence in care for orofacial pain. Members of the organization include dentists and other healthcare professionals who treat people with these conditions. Find an Orofacial Pain Specialist Your dentist will often be the first provider to recognize that your orofacial pain is not a result of a tooth problem. If you have orofacial pain that your general dentist can't treat, they might refer you to an orofacial pain specialist. You can also search for providers using the AAOP member directory. Summary An orofacial pain specialist is a licensed dentist specializing in diagnosing, managing, and treating disorders causing pain in the mouth, jaw, head, neck, and face. Although these conditions can cause tooth pain, the root cause of the disorder is not the teeth. Issues with muscles, nerves, ligaments, and bones in the face or surrounding areas can cause orofacial pain. Orofacial pain specialists often work as part of an interdisciplinary team with other healthcare providers to treat these conditions. Treatments include prescribing medications, surgery, exercise instruction, mouth appliances (such as a mouth guard or splint), or injections of steroid medications or Botox. Orofacial pain specialists require additional training and have the option of taking a licensing exam for certification. 8 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Academy of Orofacial Pain. Orofacial pain specialty. Heir GM. Orofacial pain, the 12th specialty: the necessity. The Journal of the American Dental Association. 2020;151(7):469-471. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2020.05.002 American Dental Education Association. Orofacial pain. Ziegeler C, Beikler T, Gosau M, et al. Idiopathic facial pain syndromes. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2021;118(6):81-87. doi:10.3238/arztebl.m2021.0006 Lobbezoo F, Lavigne GJ, Kato T, et al. The face of dental sleep medicine in the 21st century. J Oral Rehabil. 2020;47(12):1579-1589. doi:10.1111/joor.13075 Johns Hopkins Medicine. Temporomadibular disorder (TMD). Massachusetts General Hospital. Orofacial pain. American Academy of Orofacial Pain. The american academy of orofacial pain. By Aubrey Bailey, PT, DPT, CHT Aubrey Bailey is a physical therapist and professor of anatomy and physiology with over a decade of experience providing in-person and online education for medical personnel and the general public, specializing in the areas of orthopedic injury, neurologic diseases, developmental disorders, and healthy living. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit