Professor Khoo Suan Phaik

BDS (Mal), MSc (Lond), FFDRCSI (Oral Med), FDSRCPS (Glasgow), FDSRCS(Edin), PhD (Spore)

Dr. Khoo Suan Phaik is a Professor of Oral Pathology & Oral Medicine at the School of Dentistry, International Medical University (IMU) and is also the Associate Dean responsible for postgraduate programs. She obtained her Masters in the field of Oral Pathology in the UK, Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland in the Oral Medicine specialty, Fellowships from the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Glasgow and Edinburgh and a PhD from the National University of Singapore. Prior to joining IMU she has served at the University of Malaya for 20 years. She is the Past-President of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Malaysian Section and Council Member of the Malaysian Association of Orofacial Diseases (MAOFD). Her special interests are in orofacial pain and also immunological disorders affecting the oral mucosa. She has numerous publications and has delivered lectures at local and international scientific meetings.

Psychological Aspects of Orofacial Pain

The psychological aspects of chronic pain conditions represent a key component of the pain experience and orofacial pain conditions are not an exception. The inter-relationships between biological and psychological factors influencing the etiology, progression and management of orofacial pain conditions are considered relative to a physical diagnosis coordinated with the evaluation of psychological and psychosocial dysfunction. The fundamental basis of nociception and pain as well as the impact of pain perception on the psychological status relevant to the management of orofacial pain are highlighted.