Mariela Padilla, DDS, M.Ed
Associate Dean of Strategic Planning and Outcomes Assessment
Dr. Mariela Padilla obtained her DDS in 1989 at Universidad de Costa Rica, and in 1998 completed a Residency Program in Orofacial Pain at UCLA. In 2005, she obtained her master’s degree in Education and Curriculum Design in Latin University, and is a Fellow from the Center for Excellence in Teaching of USC. Dr. Padilla started her clinical practice as a general dentist in 1990, and then dedicated herself solely to Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders. She has combined her clinical practice with academics since 1990, as clinical provider, faculty, pedagogical adviser, and educational administrator. Dr. Padilla is dedicated to creating online academic programs and resources and contributes with learning innovation and teaching development.
Dr. Padilla is currently Associate Dean of Strategic Planning and Outcomes Assessment, Professor of Clinical Dentistry, and Program Director Orofacial Pain, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry.
Current & Upcoming Courses
| OFPM 709 | 1 unit | Headache for Dental Residents Lectures and seminars on the diagnosis, prevention and management of (including pathophysiologic mechanisms) of episodic and chronic headache disorders. |
| Pain 723 | 2 units | Elective 2 Orofacial Pain and Headache The purpose of this course is to educate the student about the prevalence, differential diagnosis, prevention and management for neurogenic orofacial pain and headache disorders. |
| Pain 712a,b,c,d | 0.5 units | Pain Medicine Capstone The capstone project includes a collaborative research project or a supervised internship (practicum) incorporating a service learning approach. |
| COH 716 | 2 units | Healthcare Communication Technology Reviews systems and applications of the emerging technology of Telehealth for patient and professional health-related education and applications for patient access to care. |
| COH 593b | 2 units | Capstone Project Preparation and presentation of research capstone experience of the program, final report needs to be of a quality that it could be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. |
Current Articles
Exploring Carotidynia: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options
July 13, 2023
Circadian Rhythms: When the Pain Comes at the Same Time
May 8, 2023
Understanding the Role of Alpha Receptors in Pain Management
May 5, 2023
Can You Get a Headache From Headache Medication?
January 16, 2023
The Blinking Eye
November 22, 2022
CGRP: 4 Letters That Became a New Frontier in Pain Management
June 28, 2021
3 Elements of General Neck Examination
May 24, 2021
How to Insert and Adjust Occlusal Stabilization Appliances
December 11, 2020
How to Perform a TMJ Injection
September 3, 2020
How to Measure Orofacial Pain With a Muscle Tenderness Exam
August 27, 2020
How to Conduct a Cranial Nerve Examination
August 5, 2020
How to Perform an Occlusal Analysis
July 21, 2020