Orofacial Pain

Orofacial Pain is a newly recognized ADA specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and management of pain disorders in the jaw, mouth, face, head, and neck. Our orofacial pain specialists provide evidence-based education to our learners regarding temporomandibular muscle and joint disorders, neuropathic and neurovascular pain, headaches, and sleep disorders. Our innovative VCU Orofacial Pain/ Oral Medicine Clinic provides patients with access to high quality, interdisciplinary care.

Conditions treated include:

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) or “TMJ” usually associated with jaw joint noises (i.e. popping, clicking), difficulty opening or closing the mouth, muscle pain and headache.
Neurovascular pain (Headaches) such as migraine, tension-type or trigeminal autonomic cephalgia (i.e. cluster headache).
Nerve pain such as trigeminal neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathic pain and persistent idiopathic facial pain.
Movement disorders such as focal oral dystonia.
Bruxism associated with clenching, grinding, or gnashing of the teeth while asleep or awake.
Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea and snoring.