Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain – Evaluation and Treatment

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) and Orofacial Pain – Evaluation and Treatment

Instructor: Maria Zerjav, BSc(H)Psych, BScPT, CCTT, CODN

This 2 day course will provide a basic understanding of evaluation and treatment of common temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain.

Course participants will learn the anatomy and biomechanics of the TMJs, the neurological input and overlap in the craniofacial region, referred pain patterns, and diagnostic categories with associated clinical presentation.

Comprehensive TMJ assessment and treatment techniques with attention to cervical spine influences will be presented, followed by practical sessions.

Management for complex clinical presentations will be discussed, including psychosocial issues and chronic pain.

Oral appliance therapy, bruxism, sleep, aural symptoms, multidisciplinary management and surgical interventions will also be discussed.

** Please bring your own clipboard and water bottle.

This course is only open to physiotherapists who hold a current license to practice in Canada.

It is recommended that participants have 2 years of practice as a physiotherapist prior to enrolling in this course.

All participants are responsible for ensuring that they have a current license to practice from CPTBC. If participants are from out of BC, they must acquire a Temporary License from CPTBC. If you are unsure if you require this license, please contact [email protected].

The instructor:

Maria is a graduate of Dalhousie University, and has been practicing physiotherapy for 37 years. Over the past 30 years she has focused her area of clinical practice on the treatment of patients with TMJ disorders (TMD). She is a diplomat of the Physical Therapy Board of Craniofacial and Cervical Therapeutics (PTBCCT), a US based international group of physiotherapists who specialize in the evaluation and treatment of patients with cervical spine disorders, cervicogenic headaches, orofacial pain and TMD. The PTBCCT awarded her the title of Certified Cervical and Temporomandibular Therapist (CCTT) in 2010, after she successfully completed their exam process. She is a member of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain and has attended their annual conferences since 2004.

She has taught on the subject of TMD/Orofacial pain to physiotherapists, UBC Master’s program students, dentists, dental hygienists, otolaryngologists and plastic surgeon residents. In 2016 Maria completed advanced training in Facial Neuromuscular Retraining (for Facial Palsy/Bell’s Palsy). Maria has worked in private practice in Vancouver since 1990, and has recently retired from clinical practice. She will continue to educate physiotherapists and allied health care professionals about evidence-based practice for people suffering with TMD/Orofacial pain.

Host or Publisher Physiotherapy Association of BC