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Advanced Education in Orofacial Pain

Orofacial pain is defined as pain perceived in the face and/or oral cavity, caused by diseases or disorders of regional structures, by dysfunction of the nervous system, or through referral from distant sources. Although odontogenic pain is the most common source of oral pain, orofacial pain is typically of non-odontogenic orifin. Treatment of orofacial pain requires knowledge of the basic mechanisms and principles of diagnosis and management of pain and dysfunction associated with the pathology of intraoral structures, face, and neck. Orofacial pain may be of neuromuscular, neuropathic, and neurovascular origin.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD), a collective term embracing a number of clinical problems specifically related to the masticatory musculature, the temporomandibular joints, and associated structures, or both, are also included in the field of orofacial pain.

To achieve proficiency as an orofacial pain clinician, the postgraduate student must acquire a working knowledge of basic and clinical sciences of general and orofacial pain, develop competency in performing a thorough assessment of patients, including history taking, the physical examination, appropriate diagnostic testing and the formulation of a management plan. Management of orofacial pain must be evidence-based and consistent with standards of care set forth by the scientific literature.

Training in orofacial pain involves the diagnosis and primarily nonsurgical management of local disease of the oral cavity and surrounding structures, as well as oral manifestations of systemic disease. Evaluation and treatment of orofacial pain is often a shared responsibility between the dentist, physician, and other healthcare providers. There is considerable overlap between many medical specialties when treating these often complex chronic pain patients. Knowledge of orofacial pain provides an essential link between dental and medical practitioners. Based on this philosophy, topics in oral medicine are also incorporated into the orofacial pain training programs. This enables students the challenging opportunity to integrate and synthesize basic science and clinical knowledge when applying orofacial pain training to the patients’ care.

This program is CODA accredited and awards a Master’s degree through the Department of Oral Biology.

Program Director Dr. Gary Heir
heirgm@sdm.rutgers.edu
Program Type CODA Accredited Advanced General Dentistry Education Program
Program Length 24 Months
Residents Per Class 4
Related Programs

Master of Science

Master of Dental Science
Important Information

Admissions; Applications for the Orofacial Postgraduate Program are submitted through PASS.

Cost of Attendance

Mission and Goals

  • The mission of Advanced General Dentistry Education Program in Orofacial Pain is to train dentists in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Orofacial Pain.

  • The goal of the program is to train residents to be competent in the practice of orofacial pain, including:

    • a current working knowledge of the basic and clinical science of general and orofacial pain
    • competence to perform a proper assessment of patients, including history taking, physical examination, diagnostic testing, and formulating a treatment plan, 
    • competency to develop an evidence-based management plan consistent with standards of care set forth by the scientific literature.

Program Information

Orofacial Pain has been a specialty in dentistry since 2020. It is concerned with the prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, and management of persistent and recurrent orofacial pain disorders. This program is designed to provide advanced knowledge and skills beyond those of the standard curriculum leading to the DDS or DMD degrees. RSDM requires that the competent orofacial pain dentist demonstrate knowledge, diagnostic skills, and treatment expertise in areas, such as musculoskeletal, neurovascular, and neuropathic pain syndromes; sleep disorders related to orofacial pain; orofacial movement disorders; and intraoral, intracranial, extracranial, and systemic disorders that cause orofacial pain or dysfunction. The orofacial pain dentist is responsible to understand pain mechanisms and for the diagnosis and treatment of patients in pain that is often chronic, multifactorial, and complex. It is the responsibility of the orofacial pain dentist to accurately diagnose the cause(s) of the pain and decide if treatment should be dentally, medically, or psychologically oriented, or if optimal management requires a combination of all three treatment approaches. Management may consist of a number of interdisciplinary modalities, including, e.g., physical medicine, neurosurgery, otolaryngology, behavioral medicine, pharmacology, and in rare instances surgical interventions. Among the essential armamentarium is the knowledge and proper use of pharmacologic agents.

Students pursue a Master of Science in Dentistry or a Master of Dental Science as their degree.

The Master of Science in Dentistry program is designed to train students for a career in academic dentistry focused on research. To accomplish this objective, each student completes a 30-credit program comprising eighteen didactic credits and a twelve-credit thesis/research project.

The Master of Dental Science program is designed to give students a more in-depth understanding of the biological processes underlying their clinical specialty. The program prepares students to interpret the literature and evaluate and criticize current practices. It is not intended for those students who wish to pursue a research-based thesis project. The program's objective is to enable the students to become critical thinkers and evaluators of best practices in dentistry. To accomplish these objectives, each student will have to complete a 30-credit didactic program.

Both the MSD and MDS degrees include clinical or laboratory research. 

Upon completion of the program, the postdoctoral student receives the Master of Science or Master of Science in Dentistry degree and meets the eligibility requirements for the American Board of Orofacial Pain (ABOP), National Orofacial Pain Board examination for recognition as a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain. The ABOP is the official certifying board designated by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Board (NCRDSCB)

  • Applications are submitted through the Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS).

    Specific questions with regard to the admissions requirements or any other aspect of the Advanced Dental Education Program in Orofacial Pain at RSDM should be addressed to the Program Director:

    Dr. Gary Heir
    973-972-3418
    heirgm@sdm.rutgers.edu 

  • The CORE Curriculum is designed to provide a broad foundation in the Biomedical Sciences upon which training in specialized dental disciplines is based. The PGY1 CORE course is Foundations of Oral Biology, which consists of the following modules:

    • Professional Ethics
    • Research Design and Data Analysis
    • Microbiology and Immunology
    • Gross Anatomy
    • Histology and Pathobiology

    The PGY2 CORE course is Advanced Biomedical Science in Dentistry, which consists of the following modules:

    • Orofacial Pain
    • Oral Medicine & Pathology
    • Advanced Dental Therapeutics and Pharmacology
    • Embryology and Genetics
    • Behavioral and Social Science in Dentistry

    These courses are taught in an interdisciplinary format to residents in RSDM’s Advanced Specialty Education programs in Endodontics, Orofacial Pain, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, and Prosthodontics, as well as students in RSDM’s Masters programs. This didactic instruction occurs in a weekly two-hour seminar.

  • The curriculum is comprised of didactic assignments, clinical experience, medical and dental rotations, and teaching responsibilities. Diverse learning experiences include seminars, lectures, workshops, and self-study activities. A module of general dentistry for the orofacial pain clinician is also included. Each postgraduate student is required to complete a series of courses and rotations designed to provide the necessary scientific background for management of patients with orofacial pain.

    An important part of the program is clinical experience that continues across the entire program commencing in the first quarter. The clinical component of the program will comprise 50% of the student's time.

    The faculty will assess competence in the field of orofacial pain on a regular basis. Knowledge of basic sciences and material presented in didactic lectures will be assessed by a series of written examinations at the end of the program.

    OFP 701: Seminars in Orofacial Pain (60 Hours)

    This seminar series focuses primarily on the diagnosis and management of temporomandibular disorders, musculoskeletal disorders of the head and neck, neurovascular disorders, and neuropathic pain disorders.

    OFP 702: Clinical Management of Orofacial Pain

    This provides the postgraduate student with clinical experience in the diagnosis and management of patients referred to the Orofacial Pain Center. As the postgraduate student progresses, he/she will obtain patient histories, perform examinations, and manage patients using various modalities. All clinical activities are under the direct supervision of the faculty. Clinical activity comprises 50% of the Program.

    OFP 703: Orofacial Pain Literature Review (Journal Club)

    This seminar consists of an overview of the current scientific literature relating to the fundamentals of pain and pain management as well as orofacial pain. Each postgraduate student will be responsible for a specific reading assignment and will lead the seminar. An informal seminar setting is used to encourage stimulating discussion from all the participants. This seminar will be held monthly.

    OFP 704: Orofacial Pain Grand Rounds

    All new and ongoing patients seen in the clinic are presented by the postgraduate student in an open discussion with the faculty. Emphasis is on diagnosis and management strategies with all clinical decisions validated and supported by the scientific literature. In addition, monthly Grand Rounds are held with the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute of Rutgers School of Medicine, where residents interact with and present cases to neurologists, neurosurgeons, and their residents regarding orofacial pain.

    OM 801: Oral Medicine Grand Rounds

    New and ongoing patients being treated in the Oral Medicine Clinic for other than an orofacial pain problem is presented and discussed in an open forum. This conference meets weekly.

    OM 806: Oral-maxillofacial Radiology and Advanced Imaging

    In addition to topics discussed in the Dent 5010 and 5020 courses, the postgraduate student will spend time in the Radiology Clinic at the dental school to become familiar with more sophisticated imaging techniques, their indication/selection, and interpretation.

    Independent Study

    Postgraduate students have approximately 6 hours per week protected for library work and independent study.

  • OFP 706: Extramural Rotations

    Postgraduate students are assigned to various clinical rotations to gain exposure in various specialized areas, including TMJ surgery, Otolaryngology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neurology/Neurosurgery, Headache Management and Rheumatology.

  • Orofacial pain postgraduate students are required to prepare case presentations or lectures on various orofacial pain topics either of their choosing or by assignment from the faculty. Their presentations are given to the Division of Orofacial Pain faculty and students. Each postgraduate student is expected to present 3-4-hour presentations per year. This does not include the Masters thesis defense.

    In addition, as this program culminates in the awarding of a Master’s Degree, each postgraduate student must defend his or her thesis in a public forum by presenting their data in a lecture format. Postgraduate students are also required to complete a paper of publishable quality for submission to a refereed scientific journal on a topic to be mutually determined by the student and program director.