Myofunctional Therapy FAQ


 What is it??   

   

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is an exercise based program that aims to strengthen and  optimize orofacial muscle function through neuromuscular reeducation (repatterning). Basically, I teach exercises!


We evaluate and treat:

  • Mouth breathing
  • Tongue thrust
  • Tongue - tie
  • Thumb sucking
  • Noxious oral habits
  • Sleep disordered breathing


   

What are the goals of therapy?

   

 The four core goals of Myofunctional Therapy include:


  • Nasal breathing - breathing in and out of the nose with ease for the majority of the day and night.
  • Lips sealed - maintain lip seal without tension at rest.
  • Correct resting tongue posture - tongue is lightly suctioned to the roof of the mouth the majority of the day and night.
  • Functional chewing and swallow - efficient chewing and correct tongue placement during swallow without negative compensations.


What does therapy look like??

You will have 50 minute sessions with your therapist every two to three weeks. We ask that you bring your therapy kit to every session so that those tools are available if needed. We will review the goals of therapy, track progress, review previous exercises for accuracy and introduce the next series of exercises.


A full therapy program can last anywhere from 9-24 sessions depending on the case. Compliance and consistency are important during therapy to achieve the best results.


Parents of children under 16 must be present during sessions. You are the co-therapist and the more you are involved with evaluating exercise technique at home, the more likely it is that your child is going to succeed in therapy.


Developing body awareness around resting oral posture, breathing and functional habits during chewing and swallowing is key for achieving and maintaining the four goals of therapy.




Do you take insurance?





At Mindful Myo, we are currently a fee for service practice. We do not have the capability to offer super bills or work with insurance.


Payment is due at the time of service and we accept all major credit/debit cards or Venmo.


Who can benefit from Orofacial Myofunctional therapy (OMT)?

  • Obstructive sleep apnea 
  • Snoring
  • Headaches
  • TMJ (Temporomandibular joint) pain
  • Orthodontic relapse
  • Thumb sucking or extended pacifier use
  • Allergies/Asthma
  • Dental malocclusion

Myo for Mini's

Ages 4-5 years old

The Myo for Minis Program is specially designed for younger children who struggle with low facial muscle tone, low tongue posture or mouth breathing. This age group is typically unable to participate in a comprehensive myofunctional therapy program due to lack of body awareness and inability to mimic more complex exercises related to chewing and swallowing. We usually recommend purchasing a MyoChew or MyoMunchee appliance that is ideally worn for 5-20 mins, twice daily for this age group. You will meet with your therapist for three sessions, each four weeks apart where your child will learn basic exercises that target lip seal, nasal breathing and tongue position. Parents will act as a co-therapist at home as we work toward addressing treatment goals. Referrals may be provided to ENT, OT, PT and SLP  depending on case presentation.


Comprehensive Myofunctional

Therapy Program

Ages 6 and up

A comprehensive myofunctional therapy program consists of therapeutic exercises that aim to enhance muscle strength, tone and coordination. We achieve this through neuromuscular reeducation of the orofacial muscle complex to improve tongue posture and overall chewing and swallowing function. Clients are given a set of individualized exercises that need to be done 2-3 times per day over a two to three week period. Therapy can take anywhere between 9-18 sessions depending on the person and severity of dysfunction. Comprehensive therapy programs include pre and post-op frenectomy care in addition to therapy as well as collaboration with other providers as needed. Success of therapy is based on client compliance and dedication to therapy.


Habit Elimination

Oral habits are repetitive behaviors such as thumb sucking, mouth breathing, extended pacifier use, nail biting and tongue thrusting. These habits can be associated with a wide range of emotional states and physical changes to the body including tooth eruption or airway obstruction. The potential consequences of these habits include crooked teeth, underdeveloped facial structures, changes to occlusion or the way the teeth come together and orofacial muscle disorders.