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Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders and Myofunctional Therapy
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) are disorders of the muscles and functions of the face and mouth. They can occur when there is an abnormal jaw, lip, or tongue position during rest, swallowing, or speech. OMDs may affect breastfeeding, facial skeletal growth and development, occlusion, oral hygiene, stability of orthodontic treatment, facial esthetics, and more.
Examples of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders include one or a combination of the following:
- Thumb and finger sucking habits
- A routine habit of resting with the lips apart
- A forward resting posture of the tongue between or against the teeth
- Tongue Thrust
- Other harmful oral habits
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders are often related to, or can contribute to a variety of medical and dental disorders. These disorders can include:
- Malocclusion (improper alignment of the teeth)
- Periodontal disorders
- Orthodontic relapse
- Changes associated with abnormal jaw growth and position
- Sleep-Disordered Breathing
- Excessive Mouth Breathing
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy eliminates many of the causes of improper rest posture of the tongue and orofacial structures.
Myofunctional Therapy at Post Oak Pediatric Dentistry
What We Do
Myofunctional therapy helps by training the soft tissues of the face, neck, and mouth. By training the muscles in the face to act in their optimal biological way, muscle memory can keep the teeth and jaw in alignment as your child grows and develops.
At Post Oak Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Chang will work with your child in the office to teach them simple, everyday exercises that activate proper functioning of the tongue and facial muscles. Depending on the needs of the patient, Dr. Chang will address the patient’s tongue and lip resting posture, establish nasal breathing patterns, or eliminate harmful habits like thumb-sucking. For the best results, the patient should consistently practice the exercises they are taught in the office until the improper muscle pattern is corrected. Treatment time varies, but generally spans over a 6-12 month period.
Results
With myofunctional therapy, a patient can regain the joy of eating, speaking, breathing, and even sleeping more soundly. Cosmetic improvements can help restore confidence and self-esteem. We believe that everyone deserves to be educated about myofuncitonal disorders and treated if they suffer from OMDs.