The study of temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain from the perspective of the predoctoral dental curriculum.

This paper addresses questions 2 to 6 posed in the charge to the conference to discuss the study of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and orofacial pain from the perspective of the predoctoral dental curriculum. This paper lends itself to an additional query: how much diagnostic and therapeutic skill relative to TMD and orofacial pain should a new graduate possess and demonstrate to be deemed competent in accordance with the definition of competence of the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation? Although much of the content of this and the accompanying articles from the conference pertain to the TMD and orofacial pain curricula of dental schools in North America, most of what is presented here is universal to the teaching of the subject matter; therefore, it could be applied to educational institutions in other parts of the world. Indeed, an international survey relative to the teaching of TMD and orofacial pain would be of interest and value to dental schools worldwide.

The Third Educational Conference to Develop the Curriculum in Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain: introduction.

The principal aim of the Third Educational Conference to Develop the Curriculum in Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain was to enhance the teaching of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and orofacial pain to predoctoral dental students and to postdoctoral students in this field. Within this context, the conference sought to: (1) provide information regarding the current status of the predoctoral and postdoctoral teaching of TMD and orofacial pain, (2) present ways in which teaching of the basic sciences can be better integrated into the teaching of TMD and orofacial pain in the predoctoral and postdoctoral curriculum, (3) present ways in which the teaching of oral medicine can be better integrated into the teaching of TMD and orofacial pain in the predoctoral and postdoctoral curriculum, and (4) discuss how TMD and orofacial pain should be taught in a manner that is consistent with newly proposed accreditation standards. The papers addressing these specific aspects, as well as a summary paper on the conclusions from the conference, are presented in this issue of the journal.