Myofunctional Therapy
What is myofunctional therapy?
The Basics
Myofunctional therapy involves assessing a patient’s underperforming facial muscles and customizing exercises to correct these problems and get your facial muscles working as they should again. These issues are often caused by bad habits. If left untreated, these habits can lead to complex and painful problems, affecting the way you chew, swallow, and speak. Myofunctional therapy can improve your breathing, bite, and posture to benefit your overall oral health.
Who needs myofunctional therapy?
SIGNS OF MYOFUNCTIONAL DISORDERS IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Oral myofunctional disorders can affect children and adults. Signs and symptoms can include open mouth breathing, snoring, sleep apnea, teeth grinding and clenching, frequent headaches, TMJ pain, and tongue thrust. A sign a young child may be suffering from myofunctional disorder is if they present with speech concerns, frequent thumbsucking and pacifier use, food aversions, large tonsils, a lip or tongue tie, or a narrow vaulted upper palate. When the lip, jaw, or tongue is in an abnormal position that affects the function and development of facial structures, that is when signs and symptoms develop that can last a lifetime without correction. This less-than-ideal position can be caused by a range of factors, including a deviated septum, enlarged tonsils, a misaligned bite, and other issues. If you experience any of these symptoms, speak with your dentist about myofunctional therapy.
How Myofunctional Therapy Works
What To Expect
Treatment is customized according to your individual needs, age, and symptoms. Your myofunctional therapy program is designed to unravel bad habits and replace them with new, healthy habits, such as nasal breathing and good posture, to improve your oral health. Typically patients undergo myofunctional therapy over 12 sessions spread across a period of eight to 10 months. You will also be asked to do a series of daily home exercises, including tongue- and lip-strengthening exercises. These physical exercises will help you to maintain positive oral myofunctional habits.
Our Myofunctional Therapy Services Help You
Regain Full
Function
Breathe
Better
Prevent
Facial Pain
What is correct oral posture?
AND WHY BREATHING HABITS MATTER
Unless we’re eating, drinking, or talking, we breathe exclusively through our noses. Our noses filter, clean, and warm the air we breathe. Correct oral posture involves breathing through the nose with sealed lips, tongue tightly sealed on the top of the mouth, and teeth resting gently apart from each other.
However, lip seal may be hard to achieve for people with lip and tongue ties, and nasal breathing may be difficult in scenarios where the septum is deviated. These issues are also often caused or exacerbated by bad habits that, when left untreated, can lead to complex and painful problems, affecting the way you chew, swallow, and speak.
Can oral myofunctional therapy help?
WHY TREATMENT IS NECESSARY
Myofunctional therapy can improve your breathing, bite, and posture to benefit your overall oral health. It involves assessing a patient’s underperforming facial muscles and customizing exercises to correct these problems and get your facial muscles working as they should again.
This in turn can relieve pain, sleep-disordered breathing, clenching and grinding, open-mouth breathing, and other problems associated with myofunctional disorders. Therapy can also improve overall oral health and oral hygiene.
For very young children ages 1 to 4, our myofunctional therapist uses a tool called the Myo Munchee. The Myo Munchee is a U-shaped appliance that is placed in the mouth. The child wraps their lips around it and chews on it. This tool helps encourage proper facial development and exercises their myofascial muscles.
Brooke Edgar, RDH
MEET OUR MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPIST
Brooke Edgar is a myofunctional therapist who helps patients with myofunctional disorders and concerns every day. She has a strong desire to provide quality care, education, and therapy to all patients.
Brooke’s goal is to help people understand the incredible benefits of the treatment she provides. She is excited to meet new patients and is inspired by watching the therapies she uses with her patients change their lives. Contact us today to learn more about what we offer and find the right treatment for your needs.
Insurance & Finance
Your Partner in Dental Care
At My Chico Dentist, we help you maximize your dental insurance benefits for your covered treatments. Our team stays up-to-date on all insurances and is always available to discuss any concerns or questions you may have.
Remember to bring your insurance information with you to avoid reimbursement delays.