22/01/2020
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Jeffrey P. Okeson, DMD
Comments by Jeffrey P Okeson DMD
Professor and Interim Dean
Founder, of the Orofacial Pain Program
University of Kentucky College of Dentistry
Lexington, Kentucky 40515
1) How did you get interested in the field of Orofacial Pain?
I became interested in the field of orofacial pain in 1974 when I joined the fulltime faculty at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. I was asked to teach in the area of occlusion and at that time it was felt that occlusion was the primary reason for orofacial pain. I quickly learned that this was not an accurate assumption and then asked the question “why do some of our patients continue to have pain even after occlusal corrections?” I started the orofacial pain clinic in 1977 at our University specifically for these nonresponders. Patients started showing up with pain who had normal occlusions, malocclusions, with and without past treatments. It opened up an entirely new field of orofacial pain possibilities.
2) How do you feel that the field of orofacial pain has evolved over the years?
Over the years, we have made major strides in the area of orofacial pain. We have come from a very mechanical approach to solving patients’ problems to a much more dynamic understanding of, not only masticatory function, but also the many central mechanisms that lead to chronic pain conditions. Understanding and appreciating these mechanisms have led to an entirely new outlook and approach to the management orofacial pain. This has provided our profession with many new treatment options that are more effective in reducing our patients’ suffering.
3) The most challenging and rewarding aspects of caring for patients with chronic pain?
Each year when our new residents join our orofacial program, I tell them that this is likely one of the most rewarding fields in which we dentists can participate. There is nothing more rewarding than to take an orofacial pain sufferer and eliminate his or her pain. On the other hand, this is can be very frustrating when we think we have all the answers and the next patient does not respond. I believe it is one of the most challenging fields dentists can enter because pain is such a complicated entity. I continue to reinforce the concept that managing pain is a “thinking sport” not a “doing sport.” Most of dentistry is doing things for the patient. To be successful in treating orofacial pain, one must first think, establish the correct diagnosis and then proceed to treatment. This is not necessarily how we are trained as dentists.
4) What advice do you have for the members who are starting their carrier in the field of orofacial pain? Suggest some resources that were helpful to you.
I believe it is important to understand that the discipline of orofacial pain is different than dentistry. There are some aspects that involve our dental education, yet many other pain conditions commonly involve the field of medicine. I believe that the most important characteristics of a successful orofacial pain clinician is caring. Managing pain, especially chronic pain, involves much listening, processing the information and understanding the patient’s needs. Our talents need to be based on understanding all the possibilities for the patient’s pain and then establishing the correct diagnosis.
Often our treatments are based on educating the patient to behaviors that will lead to improvement. This is quite different than dentistry. In dentistry, we ask the patient to be quiet and cooperative and we provide the treatment. In the management of pain, our greatest role is often educating the patients to their problem and getting them actively involved in their own treatment.
5) What do you like to do in your free time?
Free time is rare for me, but when I have some, I enjoy my family, my wife of 49 years and my 8-year-old granddaughter. I also like jogging, which helps me stay healthy, feel good, sleep and think better.
