Course Director: Davis Thomas, BDS, DDS, MSD, MSc Med, MSc
Learning Objectives
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Learn the most important Systems and systemic conditions that affect Orofacial Pain management
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Learn the succinct work up of OFP cases with regards to Systemic conditions, including lab and imaging
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Case based learning of when Systemic factors should be suspected and explored
Course Description
Orofacial pain entities in general, and TMDs in particular, are almost always accompanied by systemic comorbidities and other co-existing conditions. Orofacial Pain and TMD-related pain can also be a symptom of systemic conditions. More than 80% of individuals with OFP/TMD also suffer from a comorbid systemic condition. These systemic co-morbidities have immense potential to aggravate and perpetuate OFP/TMD pain. Further, these conditions and factors make the pain refractory to conventional modalities of orofacial pain management. Failure to recognize and address these systemic factors invariably results in suboptimal OFP/TMD pain management. There is a significant lack of OFP-specific literature in this regard. Lack of knowledge and delineation of the conditioning systemic factors may result in wrong diagnosis, treatment plan, and unnecessary/irreversible treatments for the patient.
The American Academy of Orofacial Pain is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider.
ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.
The American Academy of Orofacial Pain designates this course for 7 continuing education credits.
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Faculty Bio:
Davis Thomas, BDS, DDS, MSD, MSc Med, MSc
Dr. Davis Thomas was born and brought up in Kerala, India. After completing his BSc course in Chemistry, he completed his Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from KMC, Manipal, India. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and one year of Advanced Education in General Dentistry from NYU. While in private practice, he then went on to further his education in the following twenty years to include multiple master’s degrees including orofacial pain (MSD from Rutgers University), headache pain management (MSc from University of Edinburgh), and sleep medicine (MSc Med from University of Sydney). As an assoc. clinical professor (14 years), Dr. Thomas now continues his research in Pain Management at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and Eastman Dental Center, Rochester, New York. The experience and education Dr. Thomas has acquired over the years has allowed him to lecture extensively all around the world. He has been a commissioned officer in the United Sates Army since 2001. He also has multiple faculty appointments in national and international hospitals and universities. Currently, he is Associate Professor at Rutgers Dental School, NJ, Rochester Eastman Center, NY, and Univ of Perth, Australia. He is also director for OFP/TMD/Sleep medicine courses for Roseman University/Smile USA Academy. He has scores of peer reviewed publications and multiple chapters in textbooks. He is also the Special Guest editor for multiple Special editions for JADA, DCNA and MCNA. He currently practices, teaches and researches exclusively in Pain, Orofacial Pain, Sleep Medicine/Dental Sleep Medicine and Pharmacology. He is also currently pursuing his PhD in Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics.
