Aurelio A. Alonso, DDS, PhD, MS
Dentist, Orofacial Pain Specialist
My Locations
About Me
I am a dentist with special training in temporomandibular disorders, orofacial pain and sleep medicine, specifically, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Orofacial pain can be very debilitating and interfere with all aspects of patient life. When I see patients with orofacial pain, I first try to understand them and their pain. I want to ensure that when they leave my office they have a precise diagnosis and treatment plan. It is also very important for patients to understand their conditions and the ways they will be managed. The most rewarding part of my job is to see patients improve and get back to enjoying life. I practiced five years of general dentistry in my home country, Brazil, before realizing orofacial pain was my passion and moving to the United States. Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time with my family.
- Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology 2022
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Ratings and Reviews
The ratings and reviews are based on patient responses to the overall provider rating question from the survey. The question reads: “Using any number from 0 to 10, where 0 is the worst provider possible and 10 is the best provider possible, what number would you use to rate this provider?” Responses are converted to a 5-point rating system and applied consistently to all providers. Learn more about our survey process. Patients who see some types of providers receive a different version of the patient satisfaction survey. Those results are not available on DukeHealth.org.
Training and Education
Clinical Focus and Research
I am interested in all aspects of orofacial pain, specifically, myofascial pain, headaches and sleep disorders. The relationship between pain and sleep have always fascinated me. I am also interested in how stem cells can help reduce patient pain in hopes that this modality can be used in orofacial pain in the future.
- Neural Architecture of the Murine and Human Temporomandibular Joint awarded by National Institutes of Health 2022 - 2025
- Biohaven BHV-3000-317 TMD Study awarded by Biohaven Pharmaceuticals 2022 - 2023
- Al-Hamed, F. S., A. A. Alonso, D. Vivaldi, S. B. Smith, and C. B. Meloto. “The Adaptive, Pain Sensitive, and Global Symptoms Clusters: Evidence from a Patient-Based Study.” JDR Clin Trans Res 9, no. 2 (April 2024): 170–79. https://doi.org/10.1177/23800844231164076.
- Gaynor, Sheila M., Andrey Bortsov, Eric Bair, Roger B. Fillingim, Joel D. Greenspan, Richard Ohrbach, Luda Diatchenko, et al. “Phenotypic profile clustering pragmatically identifies diagnostically and mechanistically informative subgroups of chronic pain patients.” Pain 162, no. 5 (May 1, 2021): 1528–38. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002153.
- Moreno-Hay, Isabel, Ivonne Hernández, Mariona Mulet, Elmer A. Villalon, Aurelio Alonso, Larry Lockerman, and Dennis R. Bailey. “Sleep medicine education in US and Canadian orofacial pain residency programs: Survey outcomes.” J Am Dent Assoc 151, no. 12 (December 2020): 962–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aime.2020.04.022.
- Alonso, A. A., D. R. Nixdorf, and A. M. Velly. “Neurovascular pains: implications of migraine for the oral and maxillofacial surgeon.” In Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America, 221–35. ELSEVIER, 2008.
Insurance Accepted
Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance providers. At Duke Innovative Pain Therapies at Brier Creek, all services may not be covered. Please contact Duke Innovative Pain Therapies at Brier Creek at 919-660-9000 to confirm that we accept your insurance plan, and what (if any) co-payments, co-insurances and deductibles will be your responsibility. For services at other locations, please call your insurance company to confirm your access to health care services.