South Suburban Branch | Not Every Facial Pain is TMD

Join the South Suburban Branch on April 13, 2027 from 6pm-9pm for a lecture “Not Every Facial Pain is TMD : Recognizing Red Flags and the Need for Referral” presented by Pratishtha Mishra, BDS, MDS, MS.

The South Suburban Branch welcomes Southwest Branch members to their 2026-2027 Branch Season!

Course description: Facial pain is often attributed to temporomandibular disorders (TMD), but not all facial pain is TMD. Odontogenic, neurologic, musculoskeletal, and systemic conditions may present with overlapping clinical features. This course reviews a structured approach to patients presenting with TMJ and facial pain, including TMD screening, focused clinical examination, and development of an appropriate differential diagnosis. Particular attention will be given to recognizing clinical findings that are atypical for TMD, identifying red flags that warrant further investigation, and determining when referral is indicated.

Speaker bio: Dr. Mishra is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, where she is developing clinical services in Orofacial Pain. Her clinical expertise includes Orofacial Pain, Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), Periodontics, and Dental Sleep Medicine. Dr. Mishra previously served on the faculty at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, where she maintained a faculty practice in Orofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine and was actively involved in clinical education, research, and periodontics curriculum development. Her commitment to dental education was recognized with the American Academy of Periodontology Educator Award in 2022, along with multiple nominations for teaching excellence.
She completed her dental and graduate training in Periodontics in India and an ADA CODA-accredited residency and masters degree in Orofacial Pain at the University of Kentucky. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain and the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain. Her academic and research interests include management of TMD and neuropathic pain as well as the interrelationship between oral health and sleep-disordered breathing.

Learning objectives:
1. Review current guidelines for screening patients with TMD
2. Review clinical examination of a patient presenting with TMJ and facial pain
3. Discuss differential diagnoses of facial pain
4. Identify red flags that may mimic TMD and discuss referrals

CE Hours: 2