|
Program Overview
The UCLA program is renowned
for providing hands-on experience in treating headache and
neuropathic pain disorders, as well as TMJ disorders. Heavy
emphasis is placed on learning a medical model for assessing
and treating patients, including developing competencies
in neurological, stomatognathic, myofascial, and psychological
assessment of the patients.
Length of program - 2 years
Number of Residents Accepted Each Year -
2 residents
(additional students may enroll in the tuition-based preceptorship
program)
Curriculum
a) The didactic components are notable because very little
of the required pain sciences are presented in predoctoral
or traditional dental specialty training programs. In order
to be recognized as an expert specializing in Orofacial
Pain you need a competency background in the basic and applied
pain sciences as well as the science and literature about
the more traditional dental and TMD/TMJ approaches. The
curriculum
includes: Neurology, Neuroanatomy, Neurological Exam, Laboratory
Medicine; Behavioral Medicine; Neurobiology of Pain, Neuropathic
Pain, Headache Disorders, Musculoskeletal and Myofascial
Pain Disorders, Pharmacotherapeutics for Pain and Pain
Management; TMJ Disorders, Sleep Apnea and Orofacial Dystonias;
Occlusion
and TMJ Disorders.
b) Clinic Experience is hands-on (preceded by an observational
probationary period that depends on the participant's prior experience).
Initially more TMD patients will be assigned, and then expanded
to more chronic pain profiles. The UCLA program gives actual treatment
experience of the whole spectrum of Orofacial Pain conditions as
well as traditional Temporomandibular Disorders rather than limitation
to screening, diagnosis and referral for treatment . Assessment
and treatment experience includes:
- Acute and chronic temporomandibular and TM joint disorders.
- Myofascial Pain Disorders and use of a myofascial
pain treatment protocol.
- Management of jaw behavior disorders and bruxism.
- Chronic headache disorders including managing medication
overuse (analgesics or narcotics), management of migraine
and migraine
variants.
- Recognition and management of facial migraine, and
mid face cluster mimicking toothache.
- Trigeminal neuralgia and other neuropathic pains,
including those mimicking toothache.
- Recognition and co-management of chronic regional
pain syndrome components to chronic facial pain
(sympathetic mediated pain).
- Using topical medications and neurosensory stents.
- Sleep Apnea
- BOTOX for chronic myofascial pain and headache.
- Pharmacological management. Learning to select
the best systemic medications for the above
pain mechanisms, learning
to deal with
the side effects. (Residents learns to use
over 40 drugs)
- Use of psychometric assessment instruments
and co-management with psychotherapy (John
Reeves PhD,
Director), and psychiatry
- Co-treatment of patients between the
Sections of Orofacial Pain Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery
for TM
joint disorders
and pathology.
- Co-treatment of patients who require
Rehabilitative Medicine and Physical
Therapy
- Co-treatment of TMD/TMJ and neuropathic
pain patients also requiring dental
treatment in the
general and
specialty dental
clinics.
- Medical observation rotations,
and participation rotations to
off campus
pain centers
c) A clinical or applied research
experience is a requirement
What to
Expect
1. Full participation in rounds discussion of cases is expected
by all students.
2. Once established in the program, participants will be assigned
patients in the Clinic two days per week, and will be responsible
for patient care, documentation, writing reports to referring doctors,
follow-up to patient calls, and urgent care.
3. A resident may associate during faculty consultation of patients
and assist in research being conducted in the Clinic or academic
Section
4. Prepare seminar and case materials for postdoctoral presentations,
and to the UCLA study club, plus hand in a dossier of fully documented
cases, for future professional presentations, before graduation.
5. Give selected lectures and clinical simulation laboratory instruction
to the predoctoral dental students.
6. Sharing on-call pager duties
7. We expect each resident to publish one case history, and to
participate in a clinical research project. Those going on to an
Oral Biology MS or PhD program may start their MS research project
during second year.
8. We encourage all residents to attend national academy meetings
especially if West coast or local. Costs are met by the resident.
9. Second year residents will participate in UCLA Hospital and
off site Hospital rotations (including Cedar's Sinai Pain Center,
Dr. Steven Graff-Radford, director).
Requirements/Pre-requisites
DDS or DMD from an ADA Accredited dental school
Application
Process
• Secondary General Application form
•
Official undergraduate and dental school transcripts. Translation
of transcripts if not in English
•
Three letters of recommendation
•
Personal statement
•
Curriculum vitae
•
Official National Dental Board Examination scores
•
Selected candidates will be invited for an interview.
Timeline
The APPLICATION DEADLINE for receipt of the complete application
dossier: is Dec. 15th., for enrollment the following July
1st commencement
The selection is made and announced by Jan 5th.
Selection
Factors
We are seeking to attract energetic and enthusiastic participants
to our Orofacial Pain Residency and Preceptorship programs,
and expect our students to become the next leaders in this
field. An interest in the cognitive and diagnostic as well
as technical aspects of dentistry are a prerequisite for
success. Successful candidates come from GPR, dental specialty,
or private practice experience, as well as straight from
dental school graduation. Usually students have become interested
through a special mentor, course experience, personal experience
as a practitioner or as a patient themselves. Some come with
an interest in research and a possible clinician-scientist
career in dental education. Others come with more clinical
practice expectations and will be well prepared, but should
be open to various models of practice and career.
Applicants to the Oral Biology MS degree program are expected to
have maintained a B grade average in their undergraduate program
and in dental school
Well qualified candidates with a serious interest in a clinician-scientist
career can apply to Oral Biology take the PhD degree in Oral Biology
at UCLA (4-5 years) Applicants to all UCLA PhD programs must have
completed the GRE examination. [See Internet Key-word: “GRE”]
This is usually started after a 2 year residency or preceptorship
training but can be partially integrated.
|