Orofacial Motricity: From the Emergence of a Field to the Path Toward Global Terminology Standardization

Background: The consolidation of specialized fields in health care requires not only scientific evidence and clinical refinement, but also clearly defined scope, competencies, and language, since terminological ambiguity increases overlap and hinders communication, comparability, education, and the organization of care. In this context, Orofacial Motricity was first recognized in Brazil as a field of practice, supported by institutional milestones that have defined its scope, standardized its terminology, and updated professional competencies. Furthermore, it has been consistently adopted in Latin American and European countries (e.g., Peru, Chile, and Portugal). In English-speaking countries, professionals working with Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) are often organized under the designation Orofacial Myology, within diverse institutional and educational frameworks. Methods: This manuscript was developed as a non-institutional position paper based on structured reports from international collaborators, a documentary review of institutional and regulatory sources, and an exploratory terminological survey of databases. Results: Heterogeneity was observed in the use and conceptual level of these designations across countries and institutions, with more frequent convergence at the level of clinical condition and intervention (OMDs/OMT) than at the level of field or area. Conclusion: Clarifying the distinction among field/area, clinical condition, and therapeutic intervention may reduce ambiguities and foster scientific and educational comparability in the international context.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
International Journal of Orofacial Myology
Published
2026-05-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijom52010006
Primary Topic
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Orofacial Motricity: From the Emergence of a Field to the Path Toward Global Terminology Standardization

Adriano Rockland Siqueira Campos, Gabriele Ramos de Luccas, Eliana Elizabeth Rivera-Capacho, Diana Grandi et al.
International Journal of Orofacial Myology
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
article

Orofacial Motricity: From the Emergence of a Field to the Path Toward Global Terminology Standardization

Adriano Rockland Siqueira Campos, Gabriele Ramos de Luccas, Eliana Elizabeth Rivera-Capacho, Diana Grandi, David Parra-Reyes, Felipe Inostroza-Allende, Gislaine Aparecida Folha, Roberta Lopes de Castro Martinelli, Linda D'Onofrio, H K P SILVA, Monica Castillo, Giorvan Ânderson dos Santos (Orientador) Alves, Lucas Ferreira, Ana Ilse Arraga Moreno, Liz Ojeda Peña, Katrina Rogers, Giédre Berretin-Felix, Anna Rita Beghetto, Norma Chiavaro
article en

Abstract

Background: The consolidation of specialized fields in health care requires not only scientific evidence and clinical refinement, but also clearly defined scope, competencies, and language, since terminological ambiguity increases overlap and hinders communication, comparability, education, and the organization of care. In this context, Orofacial Motricity was first recognized in Brazil as a field of practice, supported by institutional milestones that have defined its scope, standardized its terminology, and updated professional competencies. Furthermore, it has been consistently adopted in Latin American and European countries (e.g., Peru, Chile, and Portugal). In English-speaking countries, professionals working with Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) are often organized under the designation Orofacial Myology, within diverse institutional and educational frameworks. Methods: This manuscript was developed as a non-institutional position paper based on structured reports from international collaborators, a documentary review of institutional and regulatory sources, and an exploratory terminological survey of databases. Results: Heterogeneity was observed in the use and conceptual level of these designations across countries and institutions, with more frequent convergence at the level of clinical condition and intervention (OMDs/OMT) than at the level of field or area. Conclusion: Clarifying the distinction among field/area, clinical condition, and therapeutic intervention may reduce ambiguities and foster scientific and educational comparability in the international context.

International Journal of Orofacial MyologyVol. 52(1)
University of Pisa (IT), Federico Villarreal National University (PE), Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya (ES), Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (BR), National University of Natural Medicine (US), Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (AR), Universidade Federal da Paraíba (BR), Universidad Autónoma de Asunción (PY), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (BR), Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (GB), Centro de Investigación de Métodos Computacionales (AR), Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria (BR), Fundação Faculdade de Odontologia (BR), Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira (BR), ANT Foundation Italy Onlus (IT), Sociedade Brasileira de Psicologia (BR), Centro Médico Docente La Trinidad (VE), Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (BR), Hospital Base Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen (PE), University of Chile (CL), University of Pamplona (CO), University of Minho (PT)
Partnerships for the goals
Openalex Percentile: Top 5%
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.