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WHAT IS MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY?
• Suction
• Mastication
• Swallowing
• Nasal breathing
Doing these actions correctly beginning in infancy stimulates the correct growth of our facial bones.
The habits we develop in our youth translate to behaviors later in life. By training the facial muscles to act in their optimal biological way, muscle memory will keep the teeth and jaw in alignment as we grow and develop. (In many cases eliminating the need for future orthodontics).
Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs), how we use our tongue and jaws, can cause a variety of effects either directly or indirectly.
• Breastfeeding
• Stunted facial skeletal growth and development
• Disordered chewing
• Disordered swallowing
• Speech impediments
• Malocclusion (crooked teeth)
• Temporomandibular joint movement/disorders
• Poor oral hygiene
• Stability of orthodontic treatment
• Facial esthetics, and more.
Many people mouth-breathe more than they should. As a result, the muscles and the orofacial functions tend to adapt to a disordered breathing pattern, which in turn creates many myofunctional disorders.
Myofunctional therapy can help enable one to enjoy:
• Eating
• Speaking
• Breathing
• Sleeping more soundly.
• Not to mention that the Cosmetic benefits can bolster self-esteem.
Just as physical therapy helps to train our bodies back into optimal shape after an injury, Myofunctional therapy helps by training the soft tissues of the face, neck, and mouth to function at the height of their ability. Myofunctional therapy is also an important adjunct to numerous orofacial surgeries such as frenuloplasties, and mandibular advancements. Our goal is to cultivate an awareness of muscle use and develop a therapy program of regular exercises designed specifically to your needs.
In many instances, a myofunctional disorder develops from sleep apnea, crooked teeth, mouth breathing, tongue ties, jaw joint issues, or other reasons such as tooth loss.
Myofuntional Therapy can help with many ailments:
• Headaches
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain
• Neck pain
• Thumb sucking
• Nail biting
Myofunctional therapy may be an attractive alternative treatment for sleep apnea.
• It is non-invasive, inexpensive, and has no major risks.
• For example, you may be able to avoid the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or even surgery.
• In addition, the therapy has been used in other conditions
META ANALYSIS
Current literature demonstrates that myofunctional therapy decreases apnea-hypopnea index by approximately 50% in adults and 62% in children. Lowest oxygen saturations, snoring, and sleepiness outcomes improve in adults.
GOAL AS THERAPISTS
• To better understand the importance of proper tongue position (roof of the mouth)/properoral rest posture. A low tongue position can contribute to improper muscle functioning and can lead to airway obstruction.
• To better understand the importance of establishing lip seal.
• To better understand the importance of continuous nasal breathing.
• To clearly identify and illustrate the importance of pre/post operative Myofunctional therapy exercises in a clinical setting and as part of a successful tongue-tie (Frenuloplasty) procedure.
• To help strengthen the tongue and orofacial muscles through myofunctional therapy exercises and pattern retraining to help resolve issues associated with sleep, breathing, posture, orthodontic relapse, cervical neck tension, and jaw pain, among others.
Therapeutic exercises will help the strength and range of motion for your jaw, cheeks, lip and tongue. People with trouble speaking clearly, swallowing problems, or muscle weakness of the mouth may benefit from these exercises.
Sleep Apnea
Consultation
Drs Allyson and Jason Drew feel so strongly that knowledge and action can improve and save lives that they are offering a individual 30 minute consultation on sleep breathing disorders. Whether it’s loud snoring or other sleep apnea symptoms, make sure you are not at risk for this very treatable, potentially life threatening condition. Learn more about sleep apnea and get all of your questions answered. We have a limited number of consultation times available, so schedule yours as soon as possible.
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