Publications
APS Bulletin • Volume 13, Number 4, 2003
Web Site Reviews
Michael E. Clark, PhD, Department Editor
Organization: American Academy of Orofacial Pain
Reviewed by Stuart W.G. Derbyshire, PhD
Site Audience
This site is primarily for researchers and clinicians. AAOP’s mission, featured on its home page, includes laudable goals, such as establishing criteria for the diagnosis of orofacial disorders, supporting the Journal of Orofacial Pain, and providing educational materials for health professionals who treat orofacial pain and temporamandibular disorders. It is surprising that patient education and communication are not among AAOP’s goals, given the site’s patient information section provides a very informative “TMD Tutorial.”
Content Appraisal
Patient information is included under the heading of AAOP, alongside history, officers and council, new developments, publications, bylaws, and links. There are separate headings for details of events, members board examinations, and the efforts of the society to gain acceptance as a specialty by the American Dental Association. There is not a lot here for the general reader. The most interesting and broadly useful material is found in the patient information section, where visitors will find “Muscles of Mastication” in the TMD Tutorial (this Web-based tutorial is published as a patient brochure, as well). This is a particularly helpful schematic for this nonclinician who has worked with headache and facial pain patients. The brochure was sufficiently detailed, nonpatronizing, and nicely suited to its target audience. It includes careful explanations of the causes of temporomandibular disorders, encompasses physical and psychological factors, and sensibly promotes a conservative treatment regimen as being useful for more than 50% of patients. Facial pain can be distressing, and patients may unwisely pursue aggressive and nonreversible therapy such as surgery, extensive dental treatment, or orthodontic treatment. In lieu of these rather drastic and often unsuccessful approaches, the AAOP Web site describes patient self-care that largely involves avoiding excessive pressure on the muscles of mastication.
Navigation/Ease of Use
The site is well organized. The major subject headings do not disappear from view at any time, so it is easy to return to a previous point. In places in which the site does become busy, additional navigation arrows are provided. Most of the society information is in Adobe format, so it must be downloaded to view. This can be annoying, and there is no direct link to the Journal of Orofacial Pain, which is definitely inconvenient.
Recommendations
For AAOP members, this site will have obvious utility. For non-AAOP members, there is little relevant pain-related content beyond what is presented in the patient information section.
Review content represents the opinion of the reviewer, not APS.
Please submit your suggestions for future Web site reviews to Michael E. Clark, PhD, Web Site Review Department Editor, michaeleclark@highstream.net.