Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

Our clinic offers orofacial myofunctional evaluation and treatment for all ages, with both in-person and telehealth options available.

What is orofacial myofunctional therapy?
OMT is a muscle-based individualized therapy program (like physical therapy) used to correct improper function of the muscles of the mouth, face, head, and neck, and restore proper breathing and oral function. Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) may affect breastfeeding or bottle feeding skills, facial skeletal growth and development/facial esthetics, airway, sleep, chewing and swallowing, speech, occlusion, temporomandibular joint movement, oral hygiene, stability of orthodontic treatment, and more.

OMDs may include one or more of the following at any age:

  • Open Mouth Resting Posture

  • Mouth Breathing (day or night), sleep-disordered breathing, and sleep apnea

  • Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs) - tongue, lip, or cheek/buccal ties

  • Oral Habits (thumb or finger sucking, nail biting, extended pacifier use)

  • Teeth Clenching or Grinding

  • TMJ dysfunction

  • Interdental Tongue Resting Posture or Tongue Thrust

  • Certain speech sound errors

  • Difficulty Chewing or Swallowing

  • Drooling

Myofunctional therapy assists with:

  • Improving tongue and lip resting posture and jaw positioning for proper facial development and facial estheticsImp

  • Neuromuscular reeducation before and after a tongue, lip, or cheek/buccal tie release

  • Improving nasal and diaphragmatic breathing and establishing a patent airway

  • Elimination of oral habits (thumb or finger sucking, nail biting, extended pacifier use)

  • Treatment of tongue thrust

  • Treatment of persistent speech sound errors

  • Easier eating, drinking, and chewing

  • Creating correct tongue positioning to assist with orthodontics

  • Improved sleep quality