Orofacial Pain Clinic
What is Orofacial Pain?
Orofacial Pain is a dental specialty focused on the diagnosis and management of pain
disorders affecting the face, jaw, head, and oral structures. These conditions may
involve the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), muscles of mastication, nerves, and other
related structures of the head and neck.
The Orofacial Pain Clinic at the LSU Health School of Dentistry provides comprehensive evaluation and evidence-based care for patients experiencing complex or chronic pain conditions affecting the orofacial region.
Become a Patient
The Orofacial Pain Clinic accepts new patients throughout the year, and appointments
and referrals are preferred.
To request an appointment, please call:
Phone: 504-941-8900
Referring dentists or healthcare providers, you may complete the referral form below
and fax it to:
Fax: 504-941-8901
TMD & Orofacial Pain Clinic - Patient Referral Form
We make every effort to accommodate urgent patient needs in a timely manner while minimizing disruption to scheduled appointments.
Conditions We Evaluate and Manage
Patients are commonly referred to the Orofacial Pain Clinic for evaluation and management
of conditions such as:
- Temporomandibular disorders (TMD), including TMJ pain, jaw dysfunction, and jaw muscle pain
- Chronic orofacial pain conditions
- Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS)
- Neuropathic facial pain, including persistent idiopathic facial pain, trigeminal neuralgia and post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathic pain
- Headache and facial pain disorders
- Bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching)
- Sleep-related breathing disorders
Services Provided
Services provided at the Orofacial Pain Clinic include:
- Comprehensive evaluation of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and orofacial pain conditions
- Counseling and palliative care for chronic pain conditions
- Oral appliance therapy for temporomandibular disorders and bruxism
- Dental sleep appliances (mandibular advancement devices) for the management of sleep-related breathing disorders and snoring
- Custom sports mouthguards (sports appliances) designed to protect teeth, jaw structures, and oral tissues during athletic activities
- Medication management for orofacial pain conditions
- Trigger point injections and peripheral nerve blocks for management of muscle and neuropathic pain
- Temporomandibular joint injections, when indicated
- Laser pain therapy
- Physical therapy guidance and coordination
- Behavioral modification therapy and lifestyle counseling
When indicated, patients may be referred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for procedures such as arthrocentesis, arthroscopy, or surgical management of temporomandibular joint disorders.
The clinic also evaluates patients with trigeminal neuralgia, trigeminal neuropathies, and oromotor disorders. When appropriate, patients may be referred to medical specialists such as neurology or other healthcare providers for further evaluation and management.
Patients may also be referred to specialists including psychiatry, physical therapy, rheumatology, otolaryngology, pulmonology, sleep medicine and others as part of a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to care.
Who Provides the Care
Patient care is provided by licensed dentists receiving advanced training in the diagnosis
and management of orofacial pain conditions. All care is delivered under the supervision
of faculty members with expertise in the field to ensure high-quality, evidence-based
treatment.
Location
LSU Health School of Dentistry
Allen Copping Building -Advanced Clinical Care & Research
1100 Florida Avenue, BOX 10, 3rd Floor
New Orleans, LA 70119
Tel: (504) 941-8900
Fax: (504) 941-8901
Clinic Hours
Monday – Friday
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Appointments and referrals are preferred.