(TC46) Identifying Non-Odontogenic Pain and Finding an Orofacial Pain Specialist to Refer To

When a patient presents with pain at the dental clinic it is the clinician's job to identify the etiology and treat it. This etiology can be difficult to diagnose as pain can seem to be odontogenic in nature but can actually be referred from adjacent structures such as muscles, joints, cranial nerves, and the maxillary sinus. To complicate matters non-odontogenic pain and odontogenic pain can occur simultaneously. This complex relationship can ultimately result in misdiagnosis and performing unnecessary and irreversible dental procedures, including root canal therapy and extraction. Orofacial pain is a relatively new specialty in dentistry, earning its status in March 2020. These dentists are trained to recognize complex patterns of pain in the head and neck regions and help patients manage and treat their pain disorders. Therefore, it can be a valuable resource to include an orofacial pain specialist as part of a multidisciplinary team. The purpose of this table clinic is to review diagnostic factors that may indicate pain of a non-odontogenic origin and when a clinician may be able to find an orofacial pain specialist to whom they can refer their patient.