Orofacial Myofuntional Therapy
Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) include one or a combination of the following:
- Abnormal thumb, finger, lip, and tongue sucking habits
- An inappropriate mouth-open lips-open resting posture problem
- A forward interdental rest posture of the tongue problem
- A forward rest position of the tongue against the maxillary or mandibular incisors problem
- A lateral, posterior interdental tongue rest posture problem
- Inappropriate thrusting of the tongue in speaking and/or swallowing.
A balanced face is a more attractive face
Individuals who exhibit OMD frequently have poor eating/chewing function and appearance in that they chew their food with lips open and often swallow foods whole because of inadequate chewing function. If the mouth is used as an airway apparatus chewing becomes secondary to airway hence the open mouth to breathe over the food and inadequate chewing.
Habitual open-lip resting posture (lip incompetence), which is common among individuals with OMD, removes the beneficial influence that closed-lips have on the development and maintenance of good dental arch form and can have a negative influence on eruption and drifting patterns of teeth. An open mouth posture also dries the oral mucosa and can contribute to gingival and periodontal problems. Individuals that breathe through their mouths are also more prone to dental caries. Oral breathing has many other health implications.
The restorative breathing and promotion of nasal breathing can help with a plethora of health problems. Hidden chronic hyperventilation has many side effects such as brain fog, anxiety, asthma, allergies, nasal congestion, snoring, and may contribute to sleep apnea. Addressing the breathing may help overcome some of these maladies. There is often a team approach to this between Dentists, Orthodontist, ENT’s, Allergist, Osteopath, and even Nutritionists when needed to address the issues.
What are the Consequences of OMDs?
These abnormal habit patterns, functional activities, and postures can open the dental bite beyond the normal rest position. This can result in a disruption of dental development in children and over-eruption of selected teeth in adults.
Over time, dental malocclusion, cosmetic problems, and even changes in jaw growth and position are observed in some patients with OMDs. Examples of changes that can result from a chronic open mouth rest posture include an increased vertical height of the face, a retruded chin, a downward and backward growth of the lower face (rather than downward and forward), and flaccid and hypotonic lips (Proffit, 1986)
Research has revealed a high incidence of speech problems in those individuals who exhibit OMD. The /s/ sound is the most common, others are /z/,/sh/, /ch/,/j/, /t/, /n/ and /r/. When there is a combination of OMD and related speech errors, it is often difficult to correct the speech problems through traditional speech therapy alone.
How Prevalent Are OMD’s?
Recent research examining various populations found 38% to have orofacial myofunctional disorders and an incidence of 81% has been found in children exhibiting speech/articulation problems. (Kellum,1992;Maul et.al.1999).
What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?
Therapy involves an individualized regimen of therapeutic oral and facial muscle exercises to develop correct chewing and swallowing patterns as well as tongue and lip resting postures. Many therapists also provide motivational therapy to eliminate harmful oral habits such as:
* Prolonged pacifier, thumb or finger sucking
* Fingernail, Cheek or lip biting, tongue sucking and clenching/grinding of teeth.
(These children are holding a cheek expander to reveal the teeth for the photo- Photos from OMT materials)
Nasal breathing and a lip seal is a major goal of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy as well as recapturing the normal freeway space. The freeway space is characterized by a small open space between the upper and lower teeth (the normal dental rest posture of about 2-3 mm at the molars, and 4-6 mm at the incisors.) (Sicher and DuBrul, 1970)
Restorative breathing normalizes the breathing to match the metabolic activity and can be helpful to remove this as an etiology before or during Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy if needed.
How Effective is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy has helped literally thousands of individuals, in dozens of countries, for over 50 years. Numerous studies have demonstrated its effectiveness including a recent study done by Hahn &Hahn (1992), which revealed that treatment for orofacial myofunctional disorders can be 80-90% effective in correcting swallowing and rest posture function and that these corrections are retained years after completing therapy. Numerous studies have also demonstrated the efficacy of orofacial myofunctional therapy in facilitating speech therapy.
Awareness
Where is your tongue? How are you breathing? Ask yourself these questions. It will help you identify your why.
Good tongue posture
The tongue enveloping, being in contact with the roof of the mouth in its entirety- tip behind the front teeth, middle and back of the tongue in contact with the palate. The negative pressure seal created with good tongue posture shuts off the gastro intestinal gasses from coming up and into the mouth.
Habit
Incorporating your every day tasks while being aware make a previously unaware posture-positive.
Sustainability
Being aware, feeling positive changes, support a neuromuscular connection.
The program
The 4 goals are:
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Good tongue posture
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Lip seal
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Nasal breathing
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Proper swallowing pattern
Exercises will be given specific to your needs, as muscle awareness and strength are increased, different exercises are given to achieve the 4 goals
Get in touch with us today!
When we meet…
Have your tools on hand! (You’ll find out more about those later!)
Please be in a location with a lap top, or computer screen that does not require to be hand held
Have good lighting! A ring light or your face pointed toward a natural light source is best. It is also ideal to have your phone or a flashlight on hand for optimal viewing.
A Mirror- hand held or on video- so you can see yourself practicing!
Have a pen and paper for notes – we will go over exercises, I will demonstrate and then have you practice. It is ideal for you to take notes to self support your exercise regimen.
Each session starts with a check in about your awareness, habitualization, and stability of tongue posture/ breathing and sleep quality.
We address questions you have / positive or negative changes you have noted.
We will review exercises you have been practicing. You will demonstrate them at your own pace (as though you were practicing them)
Exercises will be altered and changed as needed to progress you to the goals of therapy. New exercises will be demonstrated and practiced.
As therapy goals are met- session meetings are spread further apart- to support the awareness, habituation and stability part of therapy.
What the excercises are like
Approximately 2-4 different exercises to be done 2-3 times daily (3 is the best, sometimes 1x day- but working toward habilitation, and awareness for all the days!)
Exercises target tongue, facial and breathing support. Initially, we focus on tongue, lip and facial mobility (lets get these things moving!). Next we focus on stability of muscles to achieve independent mobility. (the tongue is its own muscle!) Lastly, we ensure strength of muscles to sustain positive independent muscle control.
You will learn numerous different exercises while we work together, but each session’s homework will focus on 3-4 exercises to be done dailly (a time commitment of 5-10 minutes) If YOU choose to do an previous exercise for longer than proscribed, great!! But it is NOT recommended to do each and every exercise you learn. time is precious.
As you graduate each milestone- exercises should become habits. When you graduate from myofunctional therapy- exercises will be needed to support maintenance, and sustainability of therapy goals. (a body builder can not spend 6 months getting rock hard abs to never have to do a sit up again!) Part of successful therapy is to create strength and awareness of good oral posture habits for exclusive nasal breathing.
check ins, questions and support for further therapy will not be denied. i like to schedule a check in 3, 6 and 9 months post therapy- but anytime- i am available to meet and support a reconnection for muscle and habit awareness!