President's Message

On behalf of TEAM IOPA I extend very warm greetings to all those interested in Orofacial Pain which encompasses pain originating not only from the oral cavity but also includes several neuropathic, neurovascular conditions from this region including biobehavioral factors, TMDs and sleep disorders. The specialty can be reckoned as a bridge between medicine and dentistry, given its scope and horizons and is relevant to every general dental practice and all dental specialists. Orofacial pain patients have been baffling clinicians for decades due to its complex origin, lack of proper training and treatment protocols. Though it is not yet a recognized specialty in India, it has been recognized as the 12th specialty in the United States, by the American Dental Association in 2020 and there is an immediate requirement to form such an association in India to promote evidence-based practice and management in this field. At IOPA we shall endeavor to develop and spread awareness, education and research in this field given its infancy in the country. I invite all dental and medical clinicians and allied professionals in the country to join us and foster the development of this important specialty which will ultimately benefit our patients.