What are the benefits of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy help?

There are many benefits of myofunctional therapy and conditions that can be treated including:

• Sleep-disordered breathing including snoring and obstructive sleep apnea
• Eating functions
• Speech disorders
• Oral habits such as thumbsucking
• Tongue thrust
• Dental relapse (e.g. second set of braces due to teeth movement after removal of braces)
• Malocclusion of teeth especially if addressed early
• Pre and post frenectomy to allow tongue to heal properly and function properly
• Promote proper craniofacial development (see image below)

What does Orofacial Myofunctional Treatment consist of?

Myofunctional therapy involves a monitored series of exercises which help treat orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs). Your myofunctional therapist will look for deficiencies in breathing, mouth function, lip seal, tongue restrictions, overall structural issues, posture, and other abnormalities and/or functions of an individual to set up a treatment plan and/or refer you to other experts that they will coordinate with. Again, treatment plans are specific to the individual.

Myofunctional therapy involves retraining the muscles through exercises to help normalize the structure of the face and mouth. These exercises teach your muscles, nerves, and brain how to function optimally which includes tongue position, lip seal, and nasal breathing.

Is it true our mouth, faces, and posture are affected when Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders are not treated?

One of the key benefits of myofunctional therapy is promoting good craniofacial development. A myofunctional therapist can diagnose many of the root causes which lead to abnormal craniofacial development. On the surface, it may appear that the abnormal development only leads to superficial or cosmetic issues. However, we now know that the long term effects can include basic functions such as eating, breathing, sleeping, and speech.

In the image below, the individual in the first row shows good craniofacial development while the individual in the second row shows an individual with poor craniofacial development.

How long does Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy take?

The length of time for myofunctional therapy depends on many factors. We see better and faster outcomes when:

• The individual is compliant and motivated
• The individual does not require a tongue release (i.e. frenectomy)
• The severity level of oral dysfunctions is low
• The individual does not require expansion (i.e. palate expansion)
• The individual and/or adult is ready to invest in the time and effort required
• The individual understands the value of therapy

It is important to note that while some professionals are focused on one aspect of your treatment, we are focused on a holistic approach that will provide overall better outcomes.

Is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy expensive?

Myofunctional therapy is relatively inexpensive and can prevent more expensive treatments that may be needed in the absence of any myofunctional treatment. For example, individuals with dental issues that are caused by bad oral habits or a tongue thrust may get braces to deal with an open bite. Not treating the underlying issue (i.e. bad oral habit or tongue thrust) may result in a dental relapse and a 2nd set of braces. This is just one small example but there are many others (see OMDs) which if left untreated could result in an array of very expensive issues. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Does Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy actually work?

Yes, it does.

ASHA, the national speech organization which certifies all speech therapists, provides the latest research associated with myofunctional disorders:

PubMed Central, a highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health, provides case studies showing that myofunctional therapy helps with several OMDs:

While ongoing research is showing that myofunctional therapy has a widespread impact on several areas of health, our clients are seeing the benefits themselves. Read our reviews:

Contact

Office => 309-220-8225
bashao@bnspeechtherapy.com

Location

2416 E Washington C4
Bloomington, IL 61704

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