CDE1791 - The Many Faces of Toothaches: A Practical Approach to Evaluation of Non-odontogenic Facial Pain

Course Description

When a toothache strikes, most patients automatically assume that it results from a structural defect involving a tooth. However, toothaches may arise due to diverse orofacial pain disorders that may not be directly related to a painful tooth.  As clinicians, it is crucial to identify non-dental causes of toothaches and use caution when managing these cases. This course will use a case-based format to review the classification, clinical presentations, evaluation, and differential diagnosis of neuropathic, headache, and musculoskeletal conditions affecting the orofacial region that sometimes mimic toothaches.

Learner Outcomes

Upon course completion, the participant will:

• Understand how to complete a detailed history and examination of orofacial pain patients by the end of the lecture.
• Understand the clinical presentations of neuropathic pain, headache disorders, and musculoskeletal conditions and how they differ from odontogenic pain by the end of the lecture.
• Understand how to utilize diagnostic techniques in the differential diagnosis of orofacial pain by the end of the lecture.
• Understand the muscle referral patterns of pain in the head and neck by the end of the lecture.
• Understand the importance of interdisciplinary management and indications for referral to dental and medical specialists by the end of the lecture.

Notes

Presenter:

Dr. Chizobam Idahosa

Dr. Chizobam Idahosa is triple-board-certified in Oral Medicine, Orofacial Pain, and Lifestyle Medicine. She is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and has a private practice limited to oral medicine and orofacial pain in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  Dr. Idahosa received her B.D.S. from the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, and her D.D.S. from New York University College of Dentistry. She completed her General Practice Residency training at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, followed by private practice as a general dentist in Pittsburgh, PA.  Her training continued at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, where she completed her post-doctoral training in Oral Medicine and a Master of Science in Oral Biology. Dr. Idahosa was a faculty member at Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry, where she taught and directed multiple courses for over seven years.  Dr. Idahosa has lectured and published articles on topics related to Oral Medicine and received a Case Report Award from the American Academy of Oral Medicine. She is a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society, and she received the Robert Schattner Award for  Outstanding Oral Medicine Resident from the University of Pennsylvania.  Her clinical interests include orofacial pain, temporomandibular disorders, oral mucosal disorders, oral oncology, and salivary gland disorders.