OROFACIAL HARMONIZATION IN THE ACADEMY: A LOOK AT THE KNOWLEDGE OF DENTISTRY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

Abstract

The present study aimstoanalyzethecurrentstateofknowledgeofdentistrystudentsandteachers in relationto orofacial harmonizationandinvestigatetheintegrationof this specialtyintothe curricular structuresofundergraduateandpostgraduatecourses. To this end, anintegrative review wascarried out with a qualitative approach ofanexploratory nature. Tosurveyarticles in theliterature, a searchwascarried out in thefollowingdatabases: 1) Virtual Health Library; 2) CAPES Journaland 3) Google Scholar. The analysisoftheselectedstudies, in relationtotheresearch design, wasbasedonPolit, Beck andHunglerandLoBiondo-Wood and Haber, andboththeanalysisandsynthesisof data extracted from thearticleswerecarried out in a descriptiveway, enabling observe, count, describeandclassifythe data, with theaimofgatheringtheknowledgeproducedonthetopicexplored in the review. Regardingtheresults, thesearch in thedatabasesidentified 4317 articles: 10 capturedby VHL, 06 by Capes and 4333 by Google Scholar. Afteranalyzingtitlesand abstracts, 128 articleswereselected for reading in full. Basedontheinclusionandexclusioncriteriaofthepresent study, 07 articleswereselected for the final sample. In viewof this, this study highlightsthegrowingimportanceof Orofacial Harmonization (HOF) in dentistry, approaching formal recognition as a specialty in 2019. Despite this progress, there are challenges in theknowledgeoflegislationonthepartofteachersandstudents, highlightingtheurgentneed for training for ethicalpractice. The researchreveals a positive perceptionabouttheinclusionof HOF in the curricular matrix, emphasizing its relevance in academic training. The training ofdentistsat HOF is crucial toguaranteethequalityandsafetyofaestheticandfunctional procedures. The inclusionofspecific disciplines sincegraduation prepares professionals for anintegrated approach to oral health. The study recognizeslimitations, suggestingthat future research explore theimpactofincluding HOF in curriculaandintegratingethicaland legal knowledge. In conclusion, it highlightstheneed for educationalandregulatorymeasurestostrengthentheethicaland legal practiceof HOF in dentistry.