What pain management procedures can dentists learn at AAOPM?

Dentists can learn TMJ (temporomandibular joint) injections, trigger point therapy for head and neck muscles, occipital nerve blocks, cervical facet injections, and myofascial pain treatment techniques. Our training focuses on procedures relevant to orofacial pain management within the dental scope of practice.

Are AAOPM courses approved for dental continuing education credits?

All AAOPM courses are AAOPM certified with Certificates of Completion documenting your procedural training. While our primary accreditation is through medical channels, many state dental boards accept our training for CE credit. Contact your state dental board to verify acceptance, and our team can provide documentation to support your CE requirements.

What is the scope of practice for dentists in pain management?

Dentists typically have authority to treat pain in the head, neck, and orofacial region. This includes TMJ disorders, myofascial pain of the muscles of mastication, trigeminal neuralgia, and related conditions. Procedures may include TMJ injections, trigger point therapy, and certain nerve blocks. Always verify specific scope with your state dental board.

Pain Management Training for Dentists

The AAOPM Difference

Why Choose AAOPM

More than training — a complete ecosystem designed to help you succeed in orofacial pain management.

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Join a Thriving Community

You're not alone on this journey. Connect with over 100,000 healthcare professionals in our exclusive community forum. Share experiences, ask clinical questions, get real advice from peers who've been where you are, and build relationships that last beyond the classroom.

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Hands-On Live Training

Practice on real patients under expert supervision. Our small-group format ensures personalized attention and immediate feedback. Learn TMJ injections, trigger points, and nerve blocks with confidence.

Beginner → Advanced

Business & Marketing

"How do I grow my orofacial pain practice?" — the #1 question we hear. We answer it with comprehensive marketing strategies, patient acquisition tactics, and practice growth education.

#1 Question Answered

Mentorship & Guidance

Personal support at every step. Our faculty are here to guide your journey into orofacial pain management.

Tools & Resources

KPI calculators, treatment protocols, consent forms, and business templates included.

Trusted Vendors

Exclusive discounts on supplies, equipment, and services from vetted partners.

Job Placement

Access our exclusive board connecting you with clinics hiring orofacial pain providers.

A Proven Framework for Success

Trust the system that's helped 100,000+ students successfully expand their pain management capabilities and build thriving practices. From your first TMJ injection to a comprehensive orofacial pain program, we've mapped the path.

Career Growth

Why Dentists Are Adding Orofacial Pain Management

Dental professionals are uniquely positioned to diagnose and treat TMJ disorders, facial pain, and related conditions that traditional dentistry doesn't fully address.

Treat the Whole Patient: Many of your dental patients suffer from TMJ disorders, myofascial pain, and headaches. Adding orofacial pain skills allows you to provide comprehensive care beyond traditional restorative dentistry.
Natural Scope Extension: As experts in head and neck anatomy, dentists are ideally suited to diagnose and treat orofacial pain conditions. TMJ injections and trigger point therapy are natural additions to your clinical skillset.
Differentiate Your Practice: Few dental practices offer comprehensive orofacial pain management. This specialization attracts new patients and referrals from physicians and other dentists.
New Revenue Stream: Pain management procedures create additional revenue opportunities beyond traditional dental services, with procedures that can be billed to medical insurance.
Help Patients Avoid Referrals: Instead of referring TMJ and facial pain patients elsewhere, you can diagnose and treat these conditions in-house, providing better continuity of care.

For Dentists

Orofacial Pain Management for Dental Professionals

Specialized training designed for DDS and DMD professionals focused on head, neck, and facial pain conditions.

Dental Scope of Practice

Dentists (DDS/DMD) have specialized authority to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the head, neck, and orofacial region. This includes TMJ disorders, myofascial pain of the muscles of mastication, and related headache conditions. Your extensive training in head and neck anatomy positions you perfectly to perform TMJ injections, trigger point therapy in facial and cervical muscles, and certain nerve blocks. Scope varies by state—always verify with your state dental board—but most states recognize dentists' authority in orofacial pain management.

10M+ Americans affected by TMJ disorders

Revenue Potential

Orofacial pain procedures can be billed to medical insurance, creating new revenue streams separate from traditional dental billing.

$100K+ potential annual procedure revenue

Procedures You Can Perform

TMJ (temporomandibular joint) injections
Trigger point injections (masseter, temporalis, pterygoid, cervical muscles)
Occipital nerve blocks
Auriculotemporal nerve blocks
Myofascial pain treatment

Conditions You Can Treat

TMJ disorders (TMD)
Myofascial pain dysfunction
Tension-type headaches
Trigeminal neuralgia
Bruxism-related pain

Practice Integration

Add orofacial pain services to your existing dental practice or develop a specialized TMJ/facial pain clinic. AAOPM provides the training and business support to help you build this profitable specialty.

Training & Certification

AAOPM certification provides documentation of your procedural training for credentialing, insurance panels, and malpractice applications. Our certificates demonstrate your commitment to clinical excellence in orofacial pain management and can support state dental board requirements.

Getting Started

Most dentists start with our foundational pain management course to learn TMJ injections and trigger point techniques, then progress to ultrasound-guided procedures. Our faculty will help you develop a training pathway based on your practice goals and state regulations.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about orofacial pain management training for dentists.

Yes, dentists (DDS/DMD) can perform pain management procedures within their scope of practice, which typically includes the head, neck, and orofacial region. This includes TMJ injections, trigger point injections in the muscles of mastication and cervical region, and nerve blocks for facial pain conditions. Specific scope varies by state, so dentists should verify their authority with their state dental board before adding these procedures.

Dentists can learn TMJ (temporomandibular joint) injections, trigger point therapy for head and neck muscles (including masseter, temporalis, pterygoid, and cervical muscles), occipital nerve blocks, auriculotemporal nerve blocks, and comprehensive myofascial pain treatment techniques. Our training focuses on procedures within the dental scope of practice for orofacial pain management.

All AAOPM courses are AAOPM certified, and you receive a Certificate of Completion documenting your procedural training. While our primary accreditation is through medical continuing education channels, many state dental boards accept our training for CE credit. We recommend contacting your state dental board to verify acceptance, and our team can provide documentation to support your continuing education requirements.

Many dental patients present with TMJ disorders, facial pain, myofascial dysfunction, and headaches that traditional dentistry doesn't fully address. By adding orofacial pain management skills, you can diagnose and treat these conditions in-house rather than referring out, provide more comprehensive care to your existing patients, differentiate your practice from competitors, and create new revenue streams with procedures that can be billed to medical insurance.

Our courses combine didactic lectures covering anatomy, injection techniques, patient selection, and safety protocols with extensive hands-on training. Dentists practice procedures under direct supervision of expert faculty in small group settings, ensuring personalized attention and mastery of techniques. Courses range from 1-3 days depending on the program, with most dentists starting with our foundational course.

Yes, many orofacial pain procedures performed by dentists can be billed to medical insurance rather than dental insurance. TMJ injections, trigger point injections, and nerve blocks have established CPT codes with medical reimbursement. This creates a separate revenue stream from your traditional dental services. Our training includes guidance on proper documentation and coding for medical billing of these procedures.

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Orofacial Pain Management Training for Dentists

Why Choose AAOPM

Join a Thriving Community

Hands-On Live Training

Business & Marketing

Mentorship & Guidance

Tools & Resources

Trusted Vendors

Job Placement

A Proven Framework for Success

Why Dentists Are Adding Orofacial Pain Management

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