The complex orofacial pain patient: A case for collaboration between the orofacial pain dentist and the clinical health psychologist

Abstract

This chapter presents an example of a integrated biopsychosocial collaborative relationship between a dentist board-certified in orofacial pain and a board-certified clinical health psychologist with advanced training in clinical psychopharmacology. The orofacial pain dentist and the clinical health psychologist collaborated in diagnosing and successfully treating a patient with complex chronic orofacial pain and excessive narcotic and benzodiazepine use. After reading this chapter the reader should have an appreciation of how utilizing a integrated collaborative biopsychosocial model results in a comprehensive treatment plan that guides a dynamic treatment process to optimize clinical outcome. © 2008 Springer New York.