Continuing Dental Education

The Non-Odontogenic Toothache

Date:	Sunday, March 10, 2013
Time:	Registration: 8:30 a.m. Lecture: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuition	$175 DDS / $125 AUX
Location:	Loma Linda University School of Dentistry
Credit:	7 hours of CDE credit
AGD Code:	190

Rodolfo Acosta-Ortiz, DDS, MS Adjunct Faculty, Department of Prosthodontics College of Dental Medicine Nova Southeastern University

SYNOPSIS

Odontogenic pain (OP) is a very common orofacial pain condition among the general population and is one of the main reasons why patients seek dental care. Most cases of OP are easily diagnosed and managed by dentists in a simple and efficient way. However, in some cases, dental treatment does not relieve pain and may even exacerbate the pain. Confusing and imprecise physical findings, vague pain presentation and the presence of referred pain among the orofacial structures make these cases difficult to diagnose and manage. These patients are often misdiagnosed and receive expensive, unnecessary and irreversible dental treatment in a vain attempt to relieve the pain. This wrong doing not only causes devastating consequences for the patient but also causes frustrating, stressful, confusing clinical situations that increase the risk management and liability for the clinician. The main objective of this course is to present the diagnostic and management considerations for the patient with refractory dental pain to enable the clinician to more effectively treat non-dental pain.

OBJECTIVES

Recognize and differentiate clinical characteristics of various non-dental orofacial pain disorders Gather a comprehensive medical, dental, and psychosocial history and review of systems, and recognize the factors that may predispose, cause, or perpetuate various non-dental orofacial pain disorders Recognize indications for imaging and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various modalities as well as the diagnostic criteria used to discern various non-dental orofacial pain disorders Discuss the indications and contradictions, and limitations of diagnostic procedures for orofacial pain disorders Describe the indications and contraindications for pharmacologic, physical medicine, behavioral, surgical procedures and other treatment options used in treating non-dental orofacial pain disorders Identify medical tests necessary for monitoring medication and/or other prescribed treatments Collect data and formulate a differential diagnosis and management plan for the simple and complex non-odontogenic pain patient

For more information email continuinged@llu.edu or call (909) 558-4685.