NT-011-R - Bridging Knowledge, Advancing Access: Virtual Continuing Education for TMD & Orofacial Pain Disorders

There is an urgent need to improve temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and orofacial pain (OFP) management as current training is insufficient. Many areas in the United States lack trained clinicians, leading to inconsistent care and reliance on nonevidence-based, and even harmful, treatments. With a high patient-to-provider ratio of 175,000:1 in OFP, educational initiatives are crucial. The Commission on Dental Accreditation updated standard 2-24k to include TMD competency, but many dental programs lack the resources and patient volume for effective clinical training. This session explores improving educational gaps through virtual continuing education with trained faculty and enhancing resources and simulations using artificial intelligence.