frequently asked questions

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is a treatment approach that uses exercises designed to retrain the muscles of the face, mouth and tongue. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy helps improve functions such as breathing, swallowing, chewing and speaking.

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy addresses issues such as open mouth breathing, improper tongue positioning, tongue thrust, and poor oral posture. Various functional problems such as improper swallowing, speech difficulties and feeding issues can see improvement with myofunctional therapy.  This therapy can be particularly helpful for correcting problems related to obstructive sleep apnea, as well as TMJ disorders.  Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can aid in recovery after jaw surgery and can improve surgery outcomes to release tongue ties (lingual frenectomy).

The length of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy treatment depends on the issues being treated. Typically, treatment may last for six to twelve months. However, treatment time will vary based on the patient's specific needs. Some surgeries, such as lingual frenectomies, may require just a few visits before and after surgery. 

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is designed for children, adolescents and adults. It requires a basic understanding of following directions, so it is best suited for ages 4 and up. 

Orofacial  Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) such as mouth breathing can alter growth patterns and posture over time. This can lead to changes such as an elongated face and retruded mandible, as well as improper positioning of teeth. Open mouth breathing also leads to chewing with the lips apart. Having to chose whether to chew or breathe can increase the risk of choking due to this poor coordination. Sleeping with an open mouth can cause snoring, restless sleep, headaches and daytime drowsiness. Sleep disturbances can lead to difficulties with attention, agitation and decreased alertness during the daytime.

Tongue tie is a term to describe a common condition that occurs when a small portion of tissue remains at the bottom of the tongue restricting its movement. It can often go undetected until the tongue cannot properly perform necessary actions. A restricted tongue can jeopardize sucking, swallowing, chewing and speaking. If a tongue tie is causing symptoms a small surgery called a lingual frenectomy may be indicated. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can help improve frenectomy results. Therapy sessions prior to surgery help prep the tissues for the procedure. Therapy sessions after surgery help aid in proper healing and function, providing optimal outcomes.