Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy in Sherwood, OR

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs)

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) are disorders affecting the muscles and functions of the face and mouth. These disorders may impact several areas, including breastfeeding, facial skeletal growth and development, chewing, swallowing, speech, occlusion, temporomandibular joint movement, oral hygiene, orthodontic treatment stability, facial esthetics, sleep, and more.

Most OMDs originate from insufficient habitual nasal breathing or mouth breathing, or from anything that causes the tongue to be misplaced at rest.

A person with an OMD may experience symptoms such as an open mouth with a low resting tongue position, an incorrect swallow pattern (e.g., "tongue thrust"), or oral habits like thumb/finger sucking, fingernail biting, or teeth clenching/grinding. These disorders can lead to symptoms including speech difficulties (e.g., lisps, difficulty producing sounds like "R"), dental issues, difficulty eating and swallowing, mouth breathing, and other sleep/airway concerns.

A thorough evaluation is recommended if you have concerns regarding any of these symptoms and the functional impact on voice, speech, eating/swallowing, and breathing.

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a method of exercising the mouth and facial muscles to ensure that the muscles of the face, mouth, and throat work together harmoniously for their appropriate functions. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is a systematic, multidisciplinary approach performed by a licensed professional. Treating OMDs often requires an interdisciplinary team including, but not limited to: Dental Hygienists, Speech Pathologists, Dentists, Orthodontists, Chiropractors, Craniosacral therapy/bodywork, Physical Therapists, and Occupational Therapists.

OMT is not a "cookie cutter" approach; it involves an individualized program tailored to each patient, involving collaboration with a multidisciplinary team. The goal is to help retrain dysfunctional, adaptive muscle patterns for better orofacial development/function.

After any necessary medical evaluations for breathing and airway issues, treatment goals may include:

Increasing awareness of mouth and facial movements
Producing speech sounds more clearly
Normalizing tongue and lip resting postures
Establishing nasal breathing patterns
Adapting improper chewing and swallowing patterns
Stabilizing the dentition from extraneous orofacial muscle movement
Practicing different breathing patterns

Why Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy in Sherwood is Essential

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy in Sherwood, OR is especially valuable for individuals experiencing chronic mouth breathing, sleep apnea, or those who have completed orthodontic treatment. The therapy plays a critical role in stabilizing and maintaining the results of orthodontic work by retraining the muscles to function correctly. This therapy is also a crucial intervention for children and adults who face speech or swallowing challenges due to improper muscle function. By addressing the root causes of these issues, we help patients improve their overall quality of life and ensure long-term oral health.

Benefits of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Outcomes

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy offers many benefits, including:

Correcting and improving tongue and lip postures, which can aid in the development of normal patterns of dental eruption and alignment.
Supporting the remediation of speech errors by targeting the correct posture/placement and oral muscle function needed for particular speech sounds.
Supporting nasal breathing by identifying and addressing airway obstructions, tethered oral tissues (e.g., tongue tie, lip tie), and other structural anomalies.

By focusing on these areas, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can improve overall oral health, speech clarity, and breathing patterns, helping individuals function optimally.

Achieving Results with Orofacial Therapy in Sherwood, OR

At our practice, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy in Sherwood, OR provides a comprehensive and individualized approach to addressing orofacial issues. Whether it's improving speech clarity, correcting swallowing patterns, or enhancing correct breathing/rest posture, we work closely with our patients to ensure lasting results. With our support, patients can achieve significant improvements in their oral health, speech, and overall well-being.