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ABOP
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ABCP
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ABCP
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Approach to Care |
ABOP It’s not your bite |
ABCP It’s your bite https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/1a43ea26-1cb6-442f-b21e- |
ICCMO It’s your bite Establishing the new occlusion(bite) position.’’ https://iccmo.org/choosing-your-treatment https://app.screencast.com/FLjo8bj0829Bk |
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Reversible or irreversible |
ABOP reversible |
ABCP treatment involving teeth is irreversible |
“After three to six months wearing the splint, a patient may elect to perpetuate the new healthy biting position either through restoration, shaping of certain teeth, or the use of a removable, durable long-term appliance.” Reference https://iccmo.org/choosing-your-treatment https://app.screencast.com/ |
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Certifying Board |
ABOP is the American Board of Orofacial Pain. In May 2022, ABOP was recognized as the national certifying board for the specialty of orofacial pain. Orofacial pain was recognized as the 12th specialty of dentistry by the American Dental Association in March 2020 Reference https://adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2022/march/american-board-of-orofacial-pain-recognized-as-national-certifying-board-for-orofacial-pain |
ABCP is the American Board of Craniofacial Pain, a group of general dentists |
ICCMO treatment involving teeth is irreversible ICCMO is the International College of Craniomandibular Orthopedics, a group of general dentists. |
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Diplomate |
ABOP Diplomate Qualifications: A licensed dentist must complete a two-year post-graduate residency in orofacial pain in |
ABCP Diplomate Qualifications: A licensed dentist can take 500 hours of continuing education and pass a written exam and an oral exam taken in a single day. “A minimum of five hundred (500) hours of continuing education courses which have been completed within the immediate ten years prior to the date of submission of the written application for Diplomate status. Of these courses, 80% must be directly related to Craniofacial Pain/Temporomandibular Disorders and up to 20% ( 100 hours) may be related course categories and are subject to the final discretion of the Board. In lieu of completing and attaching” “Candidates for Diplomate status whose applications and supporting documentation have been reviewed and accepted by the ABCP may sit for the written and oral examinations in a single examination period. Successful completion of the written examination is not a prerequisite for the oral examination.’’ https://abcfp.org/exam-info https://app.screencast.com/oNGiOUt3q9vFW |
ICCMO Fellowship Qualifications: A licensed dentist can take 75 hours of continuing education courses or teaching (within the past 3 years) related to diagnosis and/or treatment of TMD, biophysics and physiology of the head, neck and stomatognathic system and also submit 3 neuromuscularly complete case histories documented with objective data and |
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Recognized as a Specialty of the American Dental Association |
ABOP Diplomate is a board-certified orofacial pain specialist, a recognized dental specialty. |
ABCP Diplomate is a board-certified craniofacial pain specialist, not a recognized dental specialty |
ICCMO Fellowship is overseen by the Fellowship Board of Examiners of ICCMO, not a recognized dental specialt |
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Pain Contributors |
ABOP A contributor to your pain can be stress in your life. An orofacial pain specialist can help you. You might also |
ABCP A contributor to your pain can be stress in your life. You need phase 1, and phase 2 dental treatment. Phase 1 treatment usually includes wearing an appliance 24/7 for several months, which will likely change your bite. Phase 2 involves dental treatment to fix your bite, including invasive and expensive crowns, onlays, and/or veneers on half or all of your teeth and/or orthodontics. |
ICCMO A contributor to your pain can be stress in your life. You need phase 1, and phase 2 dental treatment. Phase 1 treatment usually includes wearing an appliance 24/7 for several months, which will likely change your bite. Phase 2 involves dental treatment to fix your bite, including invasive and expensive crowns, onlays, and/or veneers on half or all |
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Does Treatment Involve Dentistry |
ABOP Treatment does not involve dentistry. The procedures have a medical procedure code (CPT), and medical insurance can cover some or all procedures. |
ABCP Treatment involves dentistry. You start by wearing an appliance treating your teeth, which is usually irreversible. The procedures do not have a procedure code covered by insurance companies. |
ICCMO: Treatment involves dentistry. You start by wearing an appliance 24/7 for several months. After three to six |
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Recognized as a Board-certified Specialist by a US Court of Law |
ABOP: Yes |
ABCP: No |
ICCMO: No |
I’m Dr. Rich Hirschinger, a board-certified Orofacial Pain Specialist and inventor of the gentle jaw, a passive jaw stretching device. This website was created with one purpose in mind: To educate the public that, “TMJ is Not a Diagnosis.” TMJ is an acronym for temporomandibular joint, an anatomical part of the human body, and we all have two on each side of our jaw. We also have two elbows, two knees, etc., but during my orofacial pain residency at UCLA, I learned you wouldn’t go to an orthopedic surgeon to complain, “I’ve got knee.
I’m
Dr Rich Hirschinger
A board-certified orofacial pain specialist and inventor of the
gentle jaw, a passive jaw stretching device
TMJ Is Not A Diagnosis
Its an anatomical part of the human body, and we all have one
I’ve got knee
You wouldn’t go to an orthopedic surgeon to complain
TMJ is an acronym for temporomandibular joint. We have
two TMJ’s – one on each side of our jaw
Why isn’t “TMJ is not a diagnosis?”
I’m Dr. Rich Hirschinger, a board-certified orofacial pain specialist, and the inventor of the gentle jaw, a passive jaw stretching device. I created this simple website to educate the public that, “TMJ is not a Diagnosis.” TMJ is an acronym for temporomandibular joint, an anatomical part of the human body, and we all have two on each side of our jaw. We also have two elbows, two knees, etc., but during my orofacial pain residency at UCLA, I learned you wouldn’t go to an orthopedic surgeon to complain, “I’ve got knee. I’ve actually applied for a trademark for “TMJ is not a diagnosis.” Stay tuned to see if the United States Trademark office grants it!
If TMJ is not a diagnosis, what is it?
The temporomandibular joint is part of every human body, and it is a unique joint in two distinct ways. First, it is the only joint in the human body that requires both the left and the right sides to move simultaneously. Second, it is the only joint with two unique movements, which means it hinges and it glides. In medical terms, it’s defined as a ginglymoarthrodial joint. Ginglymoid means the joint allows rotation or hinging, and arthrodial allows translation or sliding. The first 20 to 25 mm is the hinge movement. After it hinges, the joint glides. A normal range of motion is between 40 and 60 mm.
What is an orofacial pain specialist?
An orofacial pain specialist is a dentist who treats invisible pain, meaning they don’t treat teeth. To become a board-certified orofacial pain specialist, after earning a degree in dentistry, one must complete a two-year residency in orofacial pain, pass a written exam, and one year later pass an oral exam. At my specialty practice in Beverly Hills, CA, I treat what I refer to as “invisible pain,” which includes any head and neck muscle or nerve pain, TMJ, primary headaches, snoring and sleep apnea. Invisible means that if I can see something inside the mouth or on a dental X-ray, the patient must be seen by a general dentist or a dental specialist.
There are different ways of treating TMJ pain, or what you think is TMJ.
In almost all cases, a board-certified orofacial pain specialist will likely treat your muscles to address your pain and/or discomfort since tight and/or sore muscles are usually the case of the pain that people experience in the jaw. Most orofacial pain specialists will not treat your bite or “occlusion” to try and help you. Some general dentists believe the cause of a patient’s pain is related solely related to your bite.. This means some dentists will treat your teeth to treat your jaw pain. I created this chart to help highlight some of the differences between orofacial pain specialists and general dentists who treat “TMJ.”
ABOP, ABCP, and ICCMO are different dental organizations whose members treat patients with TMJ and facial pain.
The American Board of Orofacial pain (ABOP), the American Board of Craniofacial Pain (ABCP), and the International College of Craniomandibular Orthopedics (ICCMO) are three unique dental organizations whose members treat patients with TMJ and facial pain. The respective members of the organizations have different appraoches to care. Please click the down arrows to expand each section below to understand the how orofacial pain specialists and general dentists practicing craniofacial pain or neuromuscular dentistry provide their respective treatments. The information in the chart was taken from each organization’s respective website, which means the information is based on facts and not a personal opinion. Links and screenshots are provided for reference and accuracy.
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Dr Rich Hirchinger