This is a groundbreaking, fully inclusive study that promises to greatly assist dentists and the deaf population, which, according to the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), numbers 10 million in Brazil alone. The thesis, titled "Proposal for Adapting the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD) to Libras (Brazilian Sign Language)," was defended by student Alethéia Caldeira Gonçalves Alcântara Paranhos to obtain her master's degree, under the guidance of Professor Dr. Antônio Sérgio Guimarães, coordinator of the Master's program in Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD) at the institution.

The idea arose to reduce communication difficulties between dentists and deaf patients, who, due to a lack of inclusion, face access problems in a wide variety of daily situations, including in the healthcare field. Therefore, the study adapted the DC/TMD Axis I protocol, a reference in the clinical evaluation of patients with temporomandibular dysfunction and widely used in Brazil and worldwide, from written Portuguese to LIBRAS – Brazilian Sign Language, in video format.

The objective is to investigate pain in the face, head, and jaw joint of deaf people, assisting professionals in evaluation and treatment. The material contains, in addition to the signs, subtitles and audio in Portuguese, as well as supporting images, to further enhance understanding of the subject matter.
“When the patient does not understand what is being asked or cannot accurately express their complaints, the dentist risks diagnosing and, consequently, providing incorrect or partial care. Therefore, adapting already validated protocols makes the diagnosis and treatment of this population less difficult and more reliable,” explains the student.

“This is a tool that we are making available to all Portuguese-speaking dentists, free of charge, precisely because we are focused on disseminating knowledge. We want this idea to be adapted worldwide, in a wide variety of languages,” adds the professor.
It is worth noting that the translation of the DC/TMD protocol was carried out by a fluent LIBRAS interpreter, proficient in teaching, translation, and interpretation of the language, after simplifying technical terms and previously modifying the adapted material. The resulting video is approximately 18 minutes long and can be used by anyone interested. Watch it below: