The first meeting of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain was held in 1975 in New York City. The need was evident for an organization that would improve the quality of the diagnoses and management of orofacial pain, and offer a forum for the exchange of information among the various authorities in the field. The original name of the organization was The American Academy of Craniomandibular Orthopedics. This name was changed in 1981 to The American Academy of Craniomandibular Disorders and then again to The American Academy of Orofacial Pain in 1992 to reflect the focus of the discipline to include complex chronic orofacial pain disorders. While the AAOP was founded primarily by dentists it is open to all health care providers with training and interest in the treatment of OFP and TMD. The basic objectives of the Academy are to improve the knowledge of those interested in complex chronic orofacial pain disorders by increased communication and exchange of scientific information as well as to stimulate the profession towards greater awareness of these disorders and their treatment.
The American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP) Mission is as follows: an organization of dentists and other health care professionals, is dedicated to alleviating pain and suffering through the promotion of excellence in education, research and patient care in the field of orofacial pain and associated disorders.