“CRANIOMANDIBULAR DYSFUNCTIONS AND PAIN”

21 February 2026

Rome (Italy)

“CRANIOMANDIBULAR DYSFUNCTIONS AND PAIN”

A Multidisciplinary Clinical–Practical Approach

 

A full day of shared immersion designed to expand skills, broaden clinical perspectives, and renew daily practice through a multidisciplinary approach

 

 GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Date: 21 February 2026
  • Sede: Bettoja Hotel Mediterraneo – Via Cavour 15, 00187 Rome
  • Duration: 1 day (h 10.00 – 16.00)
  • Linguage: Italian
  • Participants:health professionals
  • Available places: 30 (mandatory registration)

 

COURSE CONTENTS

Craniomandibular dysfunctions and pain represent a complex clinical field in which articular, muscular, neurological, postural, and psycho-emotional components interact, generating highly heterogeneous symptom patterns. Their management requires an interpretative model capable of moving beyond a traditional, compartmentalized perspective and of situating the patient within a dynamic network of biological and functional relationships.

From this perspective, modern gnathology cannot be reduced to the mere analysis of occlusion or the temporomandibular joint. Rather, it constitutes a clinical space where expertise from dentistry, physiotherapy, pain medicine, neurology, posturology, and movement sciences converges. The complexity of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) demands a global assessment and continuous integration among disciplines, so that diagnosis is truly reliable and the therapeutic pathway reflects the specific needs of each individual patient.

This course is designed to offer professionals a clear, up-to-date, and rigorous overview of strategies for the assessment and management of craniomandibular disorders, through a clinically oriented and practice-based pathway led by Prof. Carlo Di Paolo, a leading reference in the field of TMDs and orofacial pain.

The day will combine theoretical framing, practical exercises, and discussion of clinical cases. Particular emphasis will be placed on the multidimensional interpretation of orofacial pain, the analysis of clinical signs and symptoms, and the construction of personalized therapeutic pathways, grounded in scientific evidence and tailored to the patient’s specific needs.

The course offers the rare opportunity for direct and open dialogue with an outstanding expert in this field, making it a unique occasion to deepen professional practice through genuine exchange and discussion, aimed at clarifying doubts, sharing cases, and addressing concrete clinical approaches.

Target audience:

  • Physicians and dentists, gnathologists, orthodontists, and postgraduate trainees in dental and stomatological disciplines

  • Professionals working in multidisciplinary clinical settings (physiotherapists, sports medicine physicians, pain specialists, otorhinolaryngologists, physiatrists, etc.)

Learning objectives:

  • Understand the foundations of a multidisciplinary approach to craniomandibular disorders

  • Identify the main muscular, articular, and neurological mechanisms underlying orofacial pain

  • Apply reliable diagnostic criteria for a comprehensive patient assessment

  • Integrate expertise from different specialist areas in the management of TMDs

  • Design personalized, evidence-based therapeutic pathways

  • Refine clinical decision-making through direct interaction and discussion with the instructor

 

Teacher

Prof. CARLO DI PAOLO

Associate Professor at the Department of Odontostomatological and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome. Director of the Gnathology and Orofacial Pain Unit at Policlinico Umberto I in Rome, a university reference center for the diagnosis and integrated treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs).

He is one of the leading Italian and international authorities in the field of temporomandibular dysfunctions and orofacial pain. His scientific and clinical work focuses on the diagnosis and management of TMDs, fully embracing the multidisciplinary dimension of gnathology by integrating dentistry, physiotherapy, pain medicine, acupuncture, neuromodulation techniques, and various approaches from integrative medicine. Through this work, he has contributed to the definition of clinical models and therapeutic strategies capable of addressing the complexity of the patient.

A physician, university lecturer, researcher, and clinician with decades of experience, he has made a significant contribution to the development of modern clinical gnathology and to the dissemination of a multidisciplinary clinical approach.

Author of over 180 scientific publications, he has contributed to the development of modern diagnostic criteria (DC/TMD) and to the evolution of interdisciplinary and non-conventional approaches grounded in scientific evidence. He is a speaker at numerous national and international conferences and a member of leading scientific societies in the field.

 

COSTS

REGULAR – € 160

POSTGRADUATE TRAINEES SPECIAL PRICE – € 100

 

 

FOR INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION, PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM OR WRITE TO info@bobih.org

Nome

 

Brief selected bibliography:

1. Schiffman E. et al. (2014). Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) for Clinical and Research Applications: Recommendations of the International RDC/TMD Consortium Network and Orofacial Pain Special Interest Group. Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache, 28(1), 6-27. doi:10.11607/jop.1151

A foundational document that proposes a multidimensional diagnostic protocol (clinical + psychosocial) for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), providing an international standard for both diagnosis and research.

2. Ohrbach R, Dworkin SF. (2016). The Evolution of TMD Diagnosis: Past, Present, Future. J Dent Res. 2016 Sep;95(10):1093-101. doi: 10.1177/0022034516653922.

A historical and critical analysis of the shift from an occlusion-centered perspective to a biopsychosocial model of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), highlighting the role of psychological and social factors, as well as comorbidities, in clinical assessment and management.

3. Reis P.H.F., Laxe L.A.C., Lacerda-Santos R., Münchow E.A. (2022). Distribution of Anxiety and Depression Among Different Subtypes of Temporomandibular Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 49(7), 754–767. doi:10.1111/joor.13331

A systematic review and meta-analysis showing that anxiety and depression are distributed differently across TMD subtypes, with higher levels in myofascial presentations. It underscores the need to integrate psychological assessment into everyday clinical practice.

4. Slade G.D., Fillingim R.B., Diatchenko L., et al. (2016). Painful Temporomandibular Disorder: Decade of Discovery From OPPERA Studies. Journal of Dental Research, 95(10), 1084–1092. doi:10.1177/0022034516653743

A synthesis of findings from the OPPERA program, framing painful temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) as multisystem conditions in which genetics, central sensitization, psychological factors, and neuromuscular systems jointly contribute to the chronification of pain.

5. Maixner W., Fillingim R.B., Slade G.D., Greenspan J.D., Dubner R. (2020). Biopsychosocial Factors in Chronic Orofacial Pain. Journal of Dental Research, 99(10), 1124–1132. doi:10.1177/0022034520932110

A synthesis illustrating how stress, coping strategies, psychological comorbidities, and central sensitization influence chronic orofacial pain. The article reinforces the view of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) as multisystem conditions and highlights the importance of a truly multidimensional clinical approach.

6. Roldán-Barraza C., Janko S., Villanueva J., Araya I., Lauer H.C. (2014). A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Usual Treatment Versus Psychosocial Interventions in the Treatment of Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorder Pain. Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache, 28(3), 205–222. doi:10.11607/ofph.1241

A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing standard treatments with psychological and counseling interventions in myofascial TMD pain. The findings show that addressing psychosocial components improves pain and functional outcomes, confirming the value of integrating clinical approaches with behavior-based interventions.

7. La Touche R., Martínez García S., Serrano García B., et al. (2020). Effect of Manual Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise Applied to the Cervical Region on Pain and Pressure Pain Sensitivity in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Pain Medicine, 21(10), 2373–2384. doi:10.1093/pm/pnaa021

A systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrating that cervical manual therapy and therapeutic exercises reduce pain intensity and increase pressure pain thresholds in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), supporting the use of integrated, multimodal physiotherapeutic interventions.

8. Di Paolo C, D’Urso A, Papi P, Di Sabato F, Rosella D, Pompa G, Polimeni A. (2017). Temporomandibular Disorders and Headache: A Retrospective Analysis of 1198 Patients. Pain Res Manag. 2017;2017:3203027. doi: 10.1155/2017/3203027. Epub 2017 Mar 21. PMID: 28420942; PMCID: PMC5379086.

A retrospective analysis of a large patient cohort highlighting the strong association between temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and various forms of headache. The study confirms the importance of an integrated assessment of both conditions and of a multidisciplinary approach for more effective clinical management.

9. Serritella E, Scialanca G, Di Giacomo P, Di Paolo C. (2020). Local Vibratory Stimulation for Temporomandibular Disorder Myofascial Pain Treatment: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Preliminary Study. Pain Res Manag. 2020 Dec 5;2020:6705307. doi: 10.1155/2020/6705307. PMID: 33354268; PMCID: PMC7735843.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the effectiveness of local vibratory stimulation in myofascial TMD pain, indicating vibration as a potential complementary tool within integrated therapeutic pathways.

10. Serritella E., Colombo V., Özcan M., Galluccio G., Di Paolo C. (2024). Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Management of Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders: A Narrative Review. Current Oral Health Reports, 11, 1–12. doi:10.1007/s40496-024-00372-3

A narrative review examining current knowledge on the use of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in the treatment of orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), with a focus on mechanisms of action and integrated clinical applications. It provides a multidisciplinary framework that bridges conventional and complementary approaches to symptom management.

11. Patel K., Eley K.A., Cascarini L., et al. (2023). Temporomandibular disorders—review of evidence-based management and a proposed multidisciplinary care pathway. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, 136(1), 54–69. doi:10.1016/j.oooo.2023.02.001.

A recent, comprehensive review of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), proposing a multidisciplinary care-pathway model and emphasizing the importance of conservative, multimodal approaches in clinical practice.

12. Serritella E, Galluccio G, Impellizzeri A, Di Giacomo P, Di Paolo C. (2021). Comparison of the Effectiveness of Three Different Acupuncture Methods for TMD-Related Pain: A Randomized Clinical Study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. Nov 30;2021:1286570. doi: 10.1155/2021/1286570. PMID: 34858506; PMCID: PMC8632462

A randomized study comparing three acupuncture techniques in TMD-related pain, demonstrating a significant reduction in pain and improvement in mandibular function. The benefits extend to general well-being parameters, such as sleep quality and stress modulation, suggesting effects on the central and autonomic nervous systems. The findings support the integration of acupuncture into multidisciplinary pathways for the management of orofacial pain..