Orofacial Pain—‘reducing
chronic suffering’
This was a banner year for the
Orofacial Pain Program. We
graduated our first class, and the
CODA reviewers approved the
OFP Program without reporting
requirements. Presently, the OFP
Program is only one of ten in the
U.S. The distinction of our program
is the diverse educational and
clinical platforms by which our
patient populations are cared
for and the unique experience
gained by our residents. This
year the OFP program expanded
its clinics to include two sites in
Brooklyn and medical specialty
ambulatory care at LMC main-site.
As active members and providers
of care in the medical clinics,
residents work as team members
with other disciplines such as
neurology, radiology, pulmonology,
rheumatology, physical medicine
and otolaryngology. Residents
develop proficiency in the diagnosis
and therapeutic intervention of TMD,
orofacial pain, xerostomia and dental
sleep medicine. Special attention
is placed on understanding the
influence of systemic inflammatory
diseases. In addition our residents
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have gained valuable experience in
providing expert testimony in matter
of causality and extent of injury of
the Orofacial structures.
The efforts of the OFP faculty and
residents have increased access and
delivery of care to the underserved
patient population of Brooklyn
NY. Future efforts are focused on
expansion of OFP services to other
populations across the country and
telemedicine outreach.
American Academy of
Orofacial Pain
• According to prevalence studies,
over 7% of the population or 13
million people have experienced a
chronic orofacial pain disorder that
needed treatment in the past year
(Lipton, 1993).
• An estimate of the total cases that
have sought treatment is about
2.0% of the population or 3 million
people per year—that leaves over
10 million patients with chronic
orofacial pain disorders who are
left untreated.
Omar F. Suarez, DMD, MAGD, MA
Program Director, Orofacial Pain
Dr. Imran Patel, DMD, RN, MPHc
(OFP PGY2, ’15):
“Lutheran’s Orofacial Pain
Program is unique in that we see
a high volume of diverse patients
and we get to work in both dental
and medical clinics. During the 1st
year, we spend one day a week
for two months rotating through
the neurology, rheumatology,
physical therapy, ENT, and
pulmonology departments of
Lutheran HealthCare. We also
treat patients in two Brooklyn
clinics, at Park Ridge and Sunset
Park. In addition to extensive
clinic time, we learn from faculty
located all over the country via
LMC Dental’s VTC capabilities. It
is because of these opportunities
that I chose this program.”