Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine
Master of Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine
If you are interested in TMD, headaches, neuropathies, Sleep Apnea, oral medicine, or intraoral pathology, consider applying to the Online Master of Science in Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine. This program is a unique and innovative opportunity for practicing dentists who want to learn more about a wide variety of issues while focusing on Orofacial Pain, Oral Medicine, and sleep disorders.
- We are accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and University Committee of Academic Review (UCAR)
- We are not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
- We do not provide a stipend, and this is not a clinical training program
The Master of Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine program is accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh.
For further questions, please contact our Admissions team.
Application Deadlines
- Fall – July 15th
- Spring – November 15th
- Summer – April 15th
More Program Information
| Student Type | US/International Dentists |
| Required Work Experience | DDS (or equivalent) |
| Rolling Admission | Summer, Fall, Spring |
| Estimated Program Length** | 37 months** |
| Courses | 18 courses |
| Units | 32.5 |
| Delivery Format | (90%) online learning and (10%) educational activities |
| Typical Week | 2-3 weekly streaming video lectures, one live weekly video conference and online quizzes |
| Employment Impact | Ability to continue working full time with classes |
| On-Ground Bootcamp (summer only) | Yes (1 week) |
| Capstone Project | Students to prepare and present a research paper (usually a systematic review) on a topic in orofacial pain, oral medicine or dental sleep medicine |
| Program Type | part time |
| Estimated Tuition* | $2244 unit |
*adjusted annually
Certificate of Orofacial Pain
If you are interested in the diagnosis, pathobiology and treatment of different oral diseases in the field of orofacial pain, including masticatory musculoskeletal pain, neurogenic orofacial pain, temporomandibular disorders, headaches, orofacial motor disorders including orofacial dystonias and bruxism, as well as intraoral, intracranial, extracranial and systemic disorders that cause orofacial pain, consider applying to the Online Certificate in Orofacial Pain. This program is a unique and innovative opportunity for practicing dentists who want to improve skills and gain expertise to deliver the best care for patients with complex conditions
- We are accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and University Committee of Academic Review (UCAR)
- We are not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
- We do not provide a stipend, and this is not a clinical training program
For further questions, please contact our Admissions team.
Do you live in the UK? Check out our program in collaboration with Trinity College.
Application Deadlines
- Fall – July 15th
- Spring – November 15th
- Summer – April 15th
More Program Information
| Student Type | US/International Dentists |
|---|---|
| Required Work Experience | DDS (or equivalent) |
| Rolling Admission | Summer, Fall, Spring |
| Estimated Program Length** | 12.5 months |
| Courses | 8 courses |
| Units | 12.5 |
| Delivery Format | (90%) online learning and (10%) educational activities |
| Typical Week | 2-3 weekly streaming video lectures, one live weekly video conference and online quizzes |
| Employment Impact | Ability to continue working full time with classes |
| On-Ground Bootcamp (summer only) | Yes (1 week) |
| Program Type | part time |
| Estimated Tuition* | $2244 unit |
*adjusted annually
Student Testimonials
“Ostrow’s program is one of the only ones where you can honestly have the best of both worlds. You can work towards either a certificate or a master’s degree from a very reputable university without having to put your life on pause.”
“In my own dental practice I have been seeing more orofacial pain patients due to the fact that I’m spotting more conditions because of the knowledge I have.””
Limited Status Enrollment
The Limited Status Enrollment program is intended for individuals who wish to take a limited number of courses at USC without enrolling in a full program. Limited Status Students still have access to all the same resources that traditional, full-time students have; they’re able to interact with the cohort and join a collaborative learning experience. Becoming a Limited Status Student is the perfect way to see if a complete Master or Certificate program is a good fit!
Instructions to Register as a Limited Status Student:
- Contact us at online@ostrow.usc.edu. We will provide further instructions on registering.
- Complete the Limited Status Registration Form.
- Submit the form and $100 processing fee to the Registrar One Stop Center in person or by mail.
If you are unable to submit the form in person, you may designate a representative to act on your behalf. Please contact online@ostrow.usc.edu for specifics on the documentation needed to designate a representative.
If you wish to mail in your form, please include a copy of your driver’s license or passport. If you wish to mail your payment, please consider using certified mail.
Registrar One Stop Center
700 Childs Way, JHH 106
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0912
Phone: (213) 740-8500
Setting Up Your Account and Paying Fees:
Once we process your request, we will email you confirmation of your registration. To pay your tuition bill and to activate other student services, please view the post-registration instructions.
- Financial Aid is not available for limited status students.
Master Curriculum
The OFPOM Master’s is a 3-year program. Courses outlined by trimester are completed throughout the 3-year period.
Online Courses
Summer Trimester
OFPM 723 Systems Physiology, Motor Disorders and Sleep Apnea for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminars on various topics relating to oral motor and sleep disorders.
Fall Trimester
GDEN 733 Research Methodologies in Dentistry (2 units)
This course focuses on the basic elements of clinical research design and teaches how to critically assess the literature.
OPR 704 Oral Pathology and Maxillofacial Medicine (2 Units)
Review of oral diseases affecting the oral cavity and their management, which includes developmental conditions, pigmented lesions, Immune-Mediated and Allergic Conditions, mucosal and connective tissue abnormalities.
OFPM 706 TMD, Orthopedics, Rheumatology and Physical Therapy for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminars on topics relating to the diagnosis and management of TM disorders.
OFPM 707 Pharmacology Series for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminars on common medications used in the practice of oral medicine and chronic orofacial pain.
OFPM 722 Internal Medicine and Systemic Disease for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminars on common systemic diseases and potential interactions with oral disease/treatment.
OFPM 724 Psychological and Psychometric Assessment for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminars on various topics relating to bio behavioral diagnosis and psychological management of patients with chronic illness in the orofacial region.
OFPM 727 Infectious Disease, Oral Microbiology and Virology for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminar on infectious diseases in the oral, pharyngeal and nasal region
OFPM 729b Capstone Project for OFPOM Residents (½ unit)
This is a 2-unit course where residents must complete their capstone report in the area of their chosen focus/specialization. The preliminary declaration of focus will occur during the first trimester but final determination will subject to approval by the program director.
- Residents must write a protocol/plan for their capstone project in the Research Methods class (which is offered online) in their first year.
- All capstone projects should involve some original research (e.g. a meta-analysis of the literature or a new analysis of existing datasets). The traditional format for the capstone project is either a research paper that demonstrates a significant understanding of a specific topic (either through primary or secondary research), or an original medical hypothesis style paper that describes the candidate’s in-depth understanding of a specific issue in orofacial pain, sleep disorders or oral medicine.
OFPM 730a Case Portfolio Preparation by Online OFPOM Residents (½ unit)
This course involves 3 elements:
- on a weekly basis, online residents will be prepared to discuss unique aspects of their currently appointed patient cases;
- as part of their competency assessment, online residents will be assigned two virtual patient cases a month to interview, examine, diagnose and recommend treatment. The residents will have to take and pass 18 virtual patient cases (6 in oral medicine, 6 in orofacial pain and 6 with temporomandibular disorders).
- the online residents will select their cases (after consultation with the course director) and prepare a portfolio on these cases. The portfolio will include a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation: a review of the current literature, and all interactions between the resident and the patient.
At the final summer session, these cases are presented. The resident will take questions and defend their diagnostic and treatment methods.
OFPM 730c Case Portfolio Preparation by Online OFPOM Residents (½ unit)
This course involves 3 elements:
- on a weekly basis, online residents will be prepared to discuss unique aspects of their currently appointed patient cases;
- as part of their competency assessment, online residents will be assigned two virtual patient cases a month to interview, examine, diagnose and recommend treatment. The residents will have to take and pass 18 virtual patient cases (6 in oral medicine, 6 in orofacial pain and 6 with temporomandibular disorders).
- the online residents will select their cases (after consultation with the course director) and prepare a portfolio on these cases. The portfolio will include a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation: a review of the current literature, and all interactions between the resident and the patient.
At the final summer session, these cases are presented. The resident will take questions and defend their diagnostic and treatment methods.
Spring Trimester
OPR 701 Bone Pathology and Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (1 Unit)
This course will focus on the interpretation of hard tissue imaging studies. The role of conventional dental imaging in the diagnosis of head and neck pathology will be covered along with the basics of various medical radiographic modalities such as MRI, PET-Scan, and CT. Moreover, we will review hard tissue and bone pathology affecting the jaws and other maxillofacial structures.
OFPM 705 Neurogenic Based Oral and Facial Pains for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminars on the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures appropriate for chronic neurogenic based pain disorders that occur in the orofacial region.
OFPM 709 Headache for Dental Residents (1 units)
Seminars on the diagnosis, prevention and management of (including pathophysiologic mechanisms) of episodic and chronic headache disorders.
OFPM 721 Neuroscience for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminars on the neurophysiologic and neuroanatomic bases of chronic orofacial pain disorders.
OFPM 725 Epidemiology, Nutrition and Aging for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminar on the epidemiology of oral disease and nutritional topics as related to the aging patient.
OFPM 726 Immunology and Immunosuppression for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminars on immunology and immunosuppression for oral and maxillofacial disease.
OFPM 729a Capstone Project for OFPOM Residents (½ unit)
This is a 2-unit course where residents must complete their capstone report in the area of their chosen focus/specialization. The preliminary declaration of focus will occur during the first trimester but final determination will subject to approval by the program director.
- Residents must write a protocol/plan for their capstone project in the Research Methods class (which is offered online) in their first year.
- All capstone projects should involve some original research (e.g. a meta-analysis of the literature or a new analysis of existing datasets). The traditional format for the capstone project is either a research paper that demonstrates a significant understanding of a specific topic (either through primary or secondary research), or an original medical hypothesis style paper that describes the candidate’s in-depth understanding of a specific issue in orofacial pain, sleep disorders or oral medicine.
OFPM 729c Capstone Project for OFPOM Residents (½ units)
This is a 2-unit course where residents must complete their capstone report in the area of their chosen focus/specialization. The preliminary declaration of focus will occur during the first trimester but final determination will subject to approval by the program director.
- Residents must write a protocol/plan for their capstone project in the Research Methods class (which is offered online) in their first year.
- All capstone projects should involve some original research (e.g. a meta-analysis of the literature or a new analysis of existing datasets). The traditional format for the capstone project is either a research paper that demonstrates a significant understanding of a specific topic (either through primary or secondary research), or an original medical hypothesis style paper that describes the candidate’s in-depth understanding of a specific issue in orofacial pain, sleep disorders or oral medicine.
OFPM 730b Case Portfolio Preparation by Online OFPOM Residents (½ unit)
This course involves 3 elements:
- on a weekly basis, online residents will be prepared to discuss unique aspects of their currently appointed patient cases;
- as part of their competency assessment, online residents will be assigned two virtual patient cases a month to interview, examine, diagnose and recommend treatment. The residents will have to take and pass 18 virtual patient cases (6 in oral medicine, 6 in orofacial pain and 6 with temporomandibular disorders).
- the online residents will select their cases (after consultation with the course director) and prepare a portfolio on these cases. The portfolio will include a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation: a review of the current literature, and all interactions between the resident and the patient.
At the final summer session, these cases are presented. The resident will take questions and defend their diagnostic and treatment methods.
OFPM 730d Case Portfolio Preparation by Online OFPOM Residents (½ unit)
This course involves 3 elements:
- on a weekly basis, online residents will be prepared to discuss unique aspects of their currently appointed patient cases;
- as part of their competency assessment, online residents will be assigned two virtual patient cases a month to interview, examine, diagnose and recommend treatment. The residents will have to take and pass 18 virtual patient cases (6 in oral medicine, 6 in orofacial pain and 6 with temporomandibular disorders).
- the online residents will select their cases (after consultation with the course director) and prepare a portfolio on these cases. The portfolio will include a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation: a review of the current literature, and all interactions between the resident and the patient.
At the final summer session, these cases are presented. The resident will take questions and defend their diagnostic and treatment methods.
OFPM 730e Case Portfolio Preparation by Online OFPOM Residents (½ unit)
This course involves 3 elements:
- on a weekly basis, online residents will be prepared to discuss unique aspects of their currently appointed patient cases;
- as part of their competency assessment, online residents will be assigned two virtual patient cases a month to interview, examine, diagnose and recommend treatment. The residents will have to take and pass 18 virtual patient cases (6 in oral medicine, 6 in orofacial pain and 6 with temporomandibular disorders).
- the online residents will select their cases (after consultation with the course director) and prepare a portfolio on these cases. The portfolio will include a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation: a review of the current literature, and all interactions between the resident and the patient.
At the final summer session, these cases are presented. The resident will take questions and defend their diagnostic and treatment methods.
OFPM 732 Capstone Presentation (1 unit)
- This is a 2.0 unit course divided in 3 semesters where residents must complete their capstone research project in a topic in the area of their chosen focus/specialization. Students will work in teams ranging from 2 to 4 students. During the final semester, students’ groups will present and defend their capstone projects in front of a panel of faculty, as well as complete their capstone report.
On-Ground Courses
Summer Trimester
OFPM 710a Knowledge Assessment for OFPOM Residents (1 unit)
This is a course where residents must attend the USC campus. This course is given during the summer trimester at the end of the first year of the program.
The essential elements of this course are detailed below:
- Several intensive calibration/training/seminar sessions will be provided by various faculty during the course.
- There will be multiple practical demonstrations of methods and techniques as well as calibration training in all of these methods will be conducted using both mock patients, virtual patients.
- The resident will be given three types of examinations including:
- Multiple different OSCE examinations designed to evaluate the resident’s competence in physical tasks and skills and all physical examination procedures.
- An oral examination by a faculty panel (at least 2 faculty) will be given individually to each resident and the resident will be expected to respond (provide an oral explanation of how they would diagnose and manage a set of cases).
- A virtual patient competency test will be given to each resident.
OFPM 710b Knowledge Assessment for OFPOM Residents (1 unit)
This is a course where residents must attend the USC campus. This course is given during the summer trimester at the end of the program.
The essential elements of this course are detailed below:
- Several intensive calibration/training/seminar sessions will be provided by various faculty during the first week of the course.
- There will be multiple practical demonstrations of methods and techniques as well as calibration training in all of these methods will be conducted using both mock patients, virtual patients.
- After these review and practical demonstration sessions are finished, the resident will be given three types of examinations including:
- Multiple different OSCE examinations designed to evaluate the resident’s competence in physical tasks and skills and all physical examination procedures.
- An oral examination by a faculty panel (at least 2 faculty) will be given individually to each resident and the resident will be expected to respond (provide an oral explanation of how they would diagnose and manage a set of cases).
- A virtual patient competency test will be given to each resident.
Certificate Curriculum
The OFPOM Certificate is a 12.5-month program. Courses outlined by trimester are completed throughout the 12.5-month period.
Online Courses
Summer Trimester
OFPM 723 Systems Physiology, Motor Disorders and Sleep Apnea for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminars on various topics relating to oral motor and sleep disorders.
Fall Trimester
OFPM 706 TMD, Orthopedics, Rheumatology and Physical Therapy for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminars on topics relating to the diagnosis and management of TM disorders.
OFPM 707 Pharmacology Series for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminars on common medications used in the practice of oral medicine and chronic orofacial pain.
OFPM 724 Psychological and Psychometric Assesment for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminars on various topics relating to bio behavioral diagnosis and psychological management of patients with chronic illness in the orofacial region.
OFPM 730 Case Portfolio Preparation by Online OFPOM Residents (½ unit)
This course is offered in a sequence of A,B, and C. Depending on what semester you start the program, determines when you take A,B, and C.
This course involves 3 elements:
- on a weekly basis, online residents will be prepared to discuss unique aspects of their currently appointed patient cases;
- as part of their competency assessment, online residents will be assigned two virtual patient cases a month to interview, examine, diagnose and recommend treatment. The residents will have to take and pass 18 virtual patient cases (6 in oral medicine, 6 in orofacial pain and 6 with temporomandibular disorders).
- the online residents will select their cases (after consultation with the course director) and prepare a portfolio on these cases. The portfolio will include a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation: a review of the current literature, and all interactions between the resident and the patient.
At the final summer session, these cases are presented. The resident will take questions and defend their diagnostic and treatment methods.
Spring Trimester
OFPM 705 Neurogenic Based Oral and Facial Pains for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminars on the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures appropriate for chronic neurogenic based pain disorders that occur in the orofacial region.
OFPM 724 Psychological and Psychometric Assessment for Dental Residents (2 units)
Seminars on various topics relating to bio behavioral diagnosis and psychological management of patients with chronic illness in the orofacial region.
OFP-730 Case Portfolio Preparation Course for OFP Students (0.5 units)
This course is offered in a sequence of A,B, and C. Depending on what semester you start the program, determines when you take A,B, and C.
This course involves 3 elements:
- on a weekly basis, online residents will be prepared to discuss unique aspects of their currently appointed patient cases;
- as part of their competency assessment, online residents will be assigned two virtual patient cases a month to interview, examine, diagnose and recommend treatment. The residents will have to take and pass 18 virtual patient cases (6 in oral medicine, 6 in orofacial pain and 6 with temporomandibular disorders).
- the online residents will select their cases (after consultation with the course director) and prepare a portfolio on these cases. The portfolio will include a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation: a review of the current literature, and all interactions between the resident and the patient.
At the final summer session, these cases are presented. The resident will take questions and defend their diagnostic and treatment methods.
On-Ground Courses
Summer Trimester
OFP-710 Knowledge Assessment for OFP Residents (1 unit)
This is a course where residents must attend the USC campus. This course is given during the summer trimester at the end of the program.
The essential elements of this course are detailed below:
- Several intensive calibration/training/seminar sessions will be provided by various faculty during the course.
- There will be multiple practical demonstrations of methods and techniques as well as calibration training in all of these methods will be conducted using both mock patients, virtual patients.
- The resident will be given three types of examinations including:
- Multiple different OSCE examinations designed to evaluate the resident’s competence in physical tasks and skills and all physical examination procedures.
- An oral examination by a faculty panel (at least 2 faculty) will be given individually to each resident and the resident will be expected to respond (provide an oral explanation of how they would diagnose and manage a set of cases).
- A virtual patient competency test will be given to each resident.