Simm W, Guimarães AS. The teaching of temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain at undergraduate level in Brazilian dental schools.
J Appl Oral Sci 2014;
21:518-24. [PMID:
24473717 PMCID:
PMC3891275 DOI:
10.1590/1679-775720130235]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2013] [Accepted: 08/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives
Evaluate the way the topics for the study of pain mechanisms in general, and
Orofacial Pain (OFP) and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) more specifically, are
addressed in undergraduate courses curricula, and also to verify the existence of
specialist OFP/TMD teachers in Brazilian dental schools.
Methods
Between July 2010 and January 2011, course Coordinators/Directors of all dental
schools duly registered at the Ministry of Education were invited to answer a
questionnaire on topics related to OFP/TMD teaching in their institutions.
Results
Fifty-three dental schools representatives answered the questionnaire. The study
of pain mechanisms was found to cover an average of less than 10% of the courses'
total time. Pharmacology, Endodontics and Physiology were identified as the
departments usually responsible for addressing pain mechanisms in dental courses.
Psychosocial aspects were found to occupy a very small proportion in the syllabi,
while most of the content referred to biological or somatic aspects. OFP/TMD is
addressed by a specific department in only 28.4% of the participating dental
schools, while in most cases (46.3%), OFP/TMD is under the responsibility of the
Prosthodontics department. Only 38.5% of respondents indicated that they had a
specialist OFP/TMD teacher in their Schools.
Conclusion
Among the Brazilian dental schools participating in the study, the teaching of
OFP/TMD was found to be insufficient, segmented or with an extremely restricted
focus. This initial assessment indicates that Curricular Guidelines for the study
of OFP/TMD at undergraduate dental schools should be developed and implemented to
facilitate their appropriate inclusion into the curricula and in specific
pedagogical projects.
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