Van der Straeten Charis, Philibert Quinten, Bettens Kim, Verbeke Jolien, De Pauw Guy, Van Lierde Kristiane M
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Center for Speech and Language Sciences (CESLAS), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Department of Oral Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Folia Phoniatr Logop. 2025;77(2):123-136. doi: 10.1159/000539485. Epub 2024 Jun 5.
Children with malocclusion, combined with orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs), show increased risk of developing orthodontic problems and needs later in life. Speech-language therapists typically provide orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) after referral by dentists, orthodontists or ENT specialists. Interdisciplinary treatment is often advisable to prevent relapse after orthodontic treatment. OMDs and OMT are often found to be controversial topics by dentistry professionals. This study aimed to investigate self-reported knowledge and attitudes of Flemish dentists and orthodontists towards OMDs and OMT.
A survey containing 32 items on demographics, self-reported knowledge of OMDs and OMT, attitudes towards OMDs, OMT, and its use in clinical practice, and referral behaviour was filled out by 48 general dentists (48/79, 61%) and 31 orthodontists (31/79, 39%). The impact of specialization, degree of experience and educational programme was also evaluated.
Fifty-six percent of all participants (44/79) reported insufficient to non-existent knowledge of OMT. Nevertheless, the general attitude towards the use of OMT was neutral (47%, 37/79) to (very) positive (48%, 38/79). Although they found correct, evidence-based knowledge on OMDs and OMT important, the majority indicated their formal training did not provide adequate information on OMDs (52%, 41/79) and OMT (62%, 49/79). Specialization showed significant effects, as orthodontists reported themselves knowledgeable on this topic significantly more often than general dentists (p < 0.001), and generally reported a more positive stance towards OMT (p = 0.022).
Dentists and orthodontists indicated a general interest in the topic of OMDs and OMT, alongside an overall lack of information provided by formal education. Current findings suggest the necessity of re-evaluating current curricula on OMDs and OMT.
患有错牙合畸形并伴有口面肌功能紊乱（OMD）的儿童，在正畸问题及后续生活需求方面的患病风险更高。言语治疗师通常在牙医、正畸医生或耳鼻喉科专家转诊后，对口面肌功能紊乱患者进行口面肌功能治疗（OMT）。为防止正畸治疗后复发，多学科治疗通常是可取的。OMD和OMT常被牙科专业人士视为有争议的话题。本研究旨在调查佛兰芒地区牙医和正畸医生对OMD和OMT的自我报告知识及态度。
48名普通牙医（48/79，61%）和31名正畸医生（31/79，39%）填写了一份包含32个项目的调查问卷，内容涉及人口统计学、自我报告的OMD和OMT知识、对OMD、OMT及其在临床实践中应用的态度以及转诊行为。同时还评估了专业、经验程度和教育课程的影响。
56%的参与者（44/79）报告称对OMT的了解不足或几乎一无所知。然而，对OMT使用的总体态度是中立的（47%，37/79）至（非常）积极的（48%，38/79）。尽管他们认为关于OMD和OMT的正确、基于证据的知识很重要，但大多数人表示他们的正规培训并未提供足够的关于OMD（52%，41/79）和OMT（62%，49/79）的信息。专业显示出显著影响，因为正畸医生报告自己对该主题有更多了解的频率明显高于普通牙医（p < 0.001），并且总体上对OMT的态度更积极（p = 0.022）。
牙医和正畸医生表示对OMD和OMT主题普遍感兴趣，但正规教育提供的信息总体不足。当前研究结果表明有必要重新评估当前关于OMD和OMT的课程设置。
