LEXINGTON, Ky. — For more than five decades, Jeffrey P. Okeson, D.M.D., has shaped the way dentists around the world diagnose and treat orofacial pain, transforming a once-overlooked area of care into a recognized specialty through education, research and clinical leadership.
That lifelong commitment earned the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry dean one of the profession's highest honors.
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) named Okeson the recipient of the 2026 Dr. Thaddeus V. Weclew Award, the organization's most prestigious recognition for educators. Named for the AGD's founding father, the award recognizes individuals whose careers have made exceptional contributions to dental education while advancing comprehensive patient care and mentoring future generations of dentists.
"I've been fortunate to spend my career doing what I love—caring for patients while teaching others," Okeson said. "Seeing former students and colleagues go on to improve the lives of their own patients has been the greatest reward. Receiving this recognition from the Academy of General Dentistry is both humbling and deeply meaningful."
Okeson's influence has reached well beyond the walls of the UK College of Dentistry. Throughout his career, he has delivered more than 1,350 invited lectures across all 50 states and in 61 countries, authored more than 265 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, and written two textbooks that have become foundational resources for dental education worldwide. His textbook Management of Temporomandibular Disorders and Occlusion, now in its ninth edition, is used by most U.S. dental schools and has been translated into 14 languages, while Bell's Oral and Facial Pains has been translated into six languages.
Often referred to as the "father of orofacial pain," Okeson has dedicated his career to advancing the understanding and treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and other complex facial pain conditions. His work has helped bridge the gap between dentistry and medicine, providing clinicians with evidence-based approaches to diagnosing and treating patients whose conditions have historically been difficult to manage.
"Orofacial pain is a bit of a black hole in medicine," said Kimberly Wright, D.M.D., M.A.G.D., AGD vice president. "Dr. Okeson lives in his educational world right where those two disciplines intersect, and he can take a profoundly complex topic and help a novice begin to understand and treat this underserved area of our profession the very next day."
A graduate of the UK College of Dentistry, Okeson has spent his entire professional career at his alma mater, serving in roles that include faculty member, department chair and now dean. Throughout that time, he has remained committed to preparing dentists to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care by translating complex scientific concepts into practical clinical applications.
His educational efforts continue to draw dental professionals from around the world. Each year, Okeson and his team present a weeklong didactic program on orofacial pain and TMD that has welcomed 965 participants from 70 countries. The college also hosts an immersive clinical program that allows practitioners to observe Okeson as he treats patients while teaching both predoctoral and postdoctoral students, offering participants firsthand insight into his patient-centered approach to care.
Okeson received the Dr. Thaddeus V. Weclew Award during the Academy of General Dentistry's annual meeting, AGD2026, held June 24–27 in Las Vegas.