Dr. Henry A. Gremillion Memorial Symposium

Dr. Gremillion was a long-time faculty member at UFCD having joined the college in 1991 in the Department of Prosthodontics. He later served as on faculty in the Department of Orthodontics and was named director of the Parker E. Mahan Facial Pain Center in 1992. He became a full professor in 2005 was named the Parker E. Mahan Endowed Professor in Orofacial Pain in 2008.

Gremillion was a Louisiana native who graduated in 1977 from the LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry and became a leader in oral health at the local, state, and national levels. His many honors include LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry Alumnus of Year in 2001, the highest alumnus award, and the UF College of Dentistry Teacher of the Year in 2002 and 2007. A beloved educator, the Florida Dental Association honored him as the Florida Dental Educator of the Year in 2002 and 2006. He received the Louisiana Academy of General Dentistry Career Service Award in 2003. He was selected as a 2007 Distinguished Professor by the University of Florida Blue Key Society.

In 2008, the American Academy of General Dentistry honored Gremillion with the prestigious Theodore V. Weclew Award for contributions to the education of general dentists. In 2009, the Dawson Academy honored him with its Career Service Award. In 2010, he received the American Academy of Orofacial Pain Service Award and in 2015, the Pierre Fauchard Gold Medal. He was a member of the American Dental Association, Louisiana Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honorary Dental Fraternity, American Academy of Orofacial Pain, American Pain Society, International Association for the Study of Pain, American Equilibration Society, American Association for Dental Research and International Association for Dental Research.

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Gary DeWood is a native of Toledo, Ohio. Gary earned his D.D.S. from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.  Immediately following dental school, he completed a General Practice Residency at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.  In 1995, he completed the University of Florida Facial Pain Center mini residency continuum with Drs. Parker Mahan and Henry Gremillion, and in 2004, earned his Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences degree at The University of Toledo College of Medicine. 

Dr. DeWood has been practicing restorative dentistry since 1980 and has been actively involved in teaching dentists since 1992.  He was one of the two founding faculty members of Spear Education, the other being Dr. Frank Spear.   Spear Education became internationally recognized and a leader in exceptional dental continuing education. Dr. DeWood served as executive vice president in several roles over 15 years, and Spear Education became internationally recognized and was a leader in exceptional dental continuing education.  The company was acquired by a venture capital firm and eliminated Gary’s position in 2023. 

Today, he maintains a private practice in Glendale, Arizona, Desert Sun Smiles, with his practice partner, Dr. Lee Ann Brady.  He is a principal in Global Diagnosis Education, an online “study club” for all dentists looking to be confused at a higher level.  He lectures extensively around the US and works as a practice coach with a small group of select clients.

“I declare that neither I nor any member of my family has a financial arrangement or affiliation with any corporate organization offering financial support or grant monies for this continuing dental education program greater than $999, nor do I have a financial interest greater than $1,000 in any commercial product(s) I will discuss in the presentation.”

Description

The Many Faces of Orofacial Pain: From Triage to Treatment

The primary reason individuals seek care from their health care providers is for pain. Pain in the head and face can often be confounding to the dental team if pathology is not obvious. This course will provide the practitioner with an overview of the varied orofacial pain conditions that include temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) as well as pains that may be less clear in etiology. These other conditions affecting the orofacial region may include trigeminal neuralgia, primary headaches, burning mouth disorder, and other related syndromes. Through the understanding of orofacial pain classifications and evidence-based approaches to diagnosis and therapy, attendees will gain the confidence and expertise to more accurately diagnose and, in some cases, effectively manage diverse orofacial pain presentations.

Objectives

By attending this symposium, the participants will be better able to:

• More confidently diagnose orofacial pain presentations.
• Systematically gather a relevant history and perform an appropriate examination including the ordering of appropriate diagnostic tests for orofacial pain conditions.
• Develop patient-centered treatment strategies for various orofacial pain presentations by incorporating multimodal and multidisciplinary approaches, pharmacological interventions, and in some cases, appropriate referral to most effectively alleviate suffering and improve the quality of life for individuals experiencing orofacial pains.

Registration Information