Treatments

COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION

Are you interested in myofunctional therapy but unsure if it's a good option? Schedule a complimentary 15- 30-minute phone consultation to answer any questions or concerns you or a family member may have.

COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION

We always begin with a comprehensive examination. During this evaluation, we will thoroughly discuss your history, symptoms, and concerns. This assessment is used to understand the connection between your symptoms and dysfunctions. We will complete a series of questions about past/present symptoms, measurements, and photos/videos to establish a baseline for your myofunctional therapy. The data collected during this visit will help you create a personalized treatment plan. Please allow up to 75-90 minutes for this appointment.

COMPREHENSIVE MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM

Your myofunctional therapy program will consist of 12 to 15 sessions (approx.) throughout 6 to 12 months, depending on our goals or the child’s goals and symptoms. Myofunctional therapy treats functional and structural alterations associated throughout the mouth (Oro), face (Facial) region, and structures surrounding these areas. These sessions will focus on various orofacial muscle groups through exercises that will help you learn to change bad habits and create new neurological re-education to assist the normalization of the developing, or developed, craniofacial structures and functions that will last a lifetime.

MINI MYO PROGRAM

The Mini Myo program is designed for children between 2 and 5 years of age. This program can be purchased as a package of three or six sessions the parent and provider recommend and what the child needs.

This program aims to educate and provide parents with the tools to help their young children address their oral Myofunctional symptoms at an early stage. It also includes exercises and activities to improve nasal breathing and proper oral rest posture. We use fun, engaging, playful activities and keep the environment positive by involving children's participation.

TREATMENT FOR TOUNGE TIES (PRE/POST FRENECTOMY CARE)
For lingual frenectomy, specific orofacial myofunctional exercises and stretches are crucial to achieve a full release as well as prevent reattachment of the frenum. As with many corrective surgeries, therapy before and after the procedure ensure a successful outcome. Pre and post frenectomy therapy is integrated and included in the Comprehensive Foundational Program.

Tongue-tie is the partial or total obstruction that is caused by a thick band of tissue under the tongue. This band of tissue could interfere with breastfeeding, as it can prevent babies from properly moving their tongues.

Tongue-tie is a serious oral health condition that should be treated immediately. If left untreated for a significant duration, it can affect your child's speech and also prevent them from receiving adequate nutrition through breastfeeding.

What Are the Symptoms of Tongue-Tie?

Difficulty in swallowing
Breathing troubles
Difficulty in chewing and speaking
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Difficulty in moving the jaw
Gagging, gasping, and choking during feeding
Irritability and fussiness

How Is Myofunctional Therapy Used to Treat a Tongue-Tie?

You would be familiar with the concept of physiotherapy (physical therapy). It is recommended for individuals who are recovering from recent injuries to regain the ideal movement of their limbs. Myofunctional therapy plays a similar role when it comes to treating a tongue-tie. Just before you undergo any surgical procedure, we will help strengthen the muscles of the tongue through myofunctional therapy. It helps to strengthen the surrounding oral muscles as well.

Each session of the therapy would take less than an hour, making it quick and convenient. We also suggest myofunctional therapy sessions after frenectomy, which is just as important as before the surgery. The time invested in this therapy would be worth every penny, as the results observed are phenomenal.

TREATMENT FOR SLEEP APNEA/SNORING/POOR SLEEP QUALITY

Sleep apnea is a condition in which the patient has trouble breathing during sleep. This can be caused due to the blockages in the airway. The airway can collapse during sleep, causing the patient to wake up abruptly. The interruption in the sleep cycle forces the patient to wake up during the middle of sleep and increases stress levels. It is advised that you visit us at the earliest if you are facing such concerns. We will conduct a thorough diagnosis and help alleviate the condition through myofunctional therapy.

What Is Snoring?

Snoring is a very common condition where the patient experiences vibrations in the throat region while they are asleep due to partially blocked airways. The noise is heard due to the air flowing through narrowed airways while they are sleeping. This can happen due to various issues, such as a narrow airway, awkward sleeping positions, etc., thus causing blockages in the airway.

Although there are various invasive treatment methods for sleep apnea, such as CPAP, mandibular advancement devices, etc., perhaps the most effective and comfortable treatment is myofunctional therapy. It is a series of simple yet functional exercises that target the muscles of the tongue and face that help with biting, chewing, swallowing, etc.

Myofunctional therapy has been used by sleep specialists for many years now, owing to its effectiveness in improving breathing patterns and facilitating better sleep. In fact, it is also suggested by dentists to their patients suffering from sleep apnea, as myofunctional therapy helps treat the concern of the tongue thrusting against the teeth. It also treats related concerns, such as headaches, TMJ disorder, neck pain, thumb sucking, etc.

In comparison to other treatments of sleep apnea, myofunctional therapy has many advantages. It is inexpensive, highly effective, non-invasive, has longer-lasting effects, and doesn't have any significant risks. Our team can carry out a detailed diagnosis of your condition and provide a customized treatment solution.

TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN AGES 2-5
This program aims to educate and provide parents with the tools that can help their young children to address their oral Myofunctional symptoms at their early stage. It also includes exercises, as well as activities to improve their nasal breathing and proper oral rest posture. We make use of fun and engaging playful activities and keep the environment positive by making children involved.

Is This Program Beneficial for My Child?

Your child may benefit from this program if your child:

Has mouth breathing or an open mouth posture, which are signs of potential airway problems, frequent congestion
Got tonsils/adenoids removed
Does your child exhibit signs of ADD/ADHD, learning difficulties, and/or emotional outbursts?
Had a sleep test/Poor Sleep quality/Snoring
Has the tongue stick out between the front teeth at rest? Are their lips apart and jaw hinged open while watching T.V. or reading a book
Teeth Crowding/Narrow Palate

As the years pass, the child may face more and more problems, making it hard to treat their issues. So it is always better to start young so that their health issues can never interfere with their dreams. So don't wait till your child gets a bit older; you can get them treated now.

Myofunctional therapy is making quite an impression, especially when it comes to protecting and improving the oral health of infants and children. It has been used widely to treat concerns that cause trouble with facial growth, biting and chewing, breathing, etc.

Minor disorders in the facial muscles or bones can cause a lot of concerns in a child, such as trouble while breastfeeding, impaired chewing and swallowing, sleep apnea, mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, and thumb sucking, among others. Myofunctional therapy provides proven results to all such concerns.

TREATMENT FOR JAW/FACIAL PAIN or TMJ/D

TMJ disorders are among the most prevalent oral-facial problems, affecting millions of people every year. The temporomandibular joint is an essential part of the jaw and the surrounding facial region. And when it becomes irritated or dislocated, it leads to pain and other symptoms.

What Is TMJ Disorder?

TMJ disorder or TMD involves problems with the jaw and the muscles that control jaw movement. These problems can result in pain in your jaw joint as well as difficulty or discomfort when biting, chewing, speaking, or yawning.

TMD affects countless Americans. People suffering from TMD experience symptoms that limit their quality of life.

What Causes Jaw/Facial Pain Or TMD?

The condition may be caused by a combination of the following factors:

Trauma to the jaw or face
Injury to the TMJ itself
Poor bite alignment
Infection in the joints or surrounding tissues
Arthritis in the jaw joint
Medications, such as antidepressants, antianxiety medications, seizure medications, etc.
Alcohol consumption and smoking cigarettes
Repetitive movements like chewing gum, snorting while laughing or crying, etc.

How To Avoid Jaw/Facial Pain Or TMD

Since TMJ disorders can cause snoring, sleep apnea, fatigue, and discomfort, treating them means treating all symptoms. The best way to treat TMJ disorders is with oral appliance therapy worn at night. This will keep the lower jaw in a neutral, relaxed position, preventing clenching and allowing the muscles to relax.

The Role Of Myofunctional Therapy In Jaw/Facial Pain Or TMJ/D

Myofunctional therapy is a type of therapy for individuals who experience jaw pain (TMJ). This therapy focuses on correcting poor oral habits that contribute to jaw pain. It includes a series of noninvasive, nonsurgical, and reversible procedures that correct the alignment of the muscles of the mouth, face, and jaws.

This therapy is also used to treat a wide range of problems, including severe overbites, underbites, crossbites, open bites, TMJ disorders, and sleep apnea. Myofunctional therapy corrects these problems by training the facial and tongue muscles and aligning the teeth and jaws to their proper positions.

Myofunctional therapy can help alleviate the symptoms of TMJ disorder or jaw pain. Additionally, it can help correct bad oral habits like thumb-sucking, nail-biting, and jaw-clenching.

TREATMENT FOR MOUTH BREATHING

Mouth breathing is when you breathe primarily through the mouth. This can be caused by an obstruction in the nasal passages. It can also be caused by an obstruction in the throat, such as enlarged tonsils, adenoids, tongue muscles.

Effects of Mouth Breathing:

Cause the front teeth to protrude.
Shorten the dental arch.
Cause the lower jaw to develop improperly.
Leave a space between the nose and upper lip.

What Are the Symptoms of Mouth Breathing?

Mouth breathing can lead to a number of issues, including dry mouth, tooth decay, gum disease, mouth and throat infections, mouth sores, and sleep apnea.

TREATMENT FOR ORTHODONTIC RELAPSE/TOUNGE THRUSTING

Myofunctional therapy is a type of physical therapy that focuses on correcting the improper oral habits that lead to an abnormal bite (malocclusion). Myofunctional therapy involves training the patient with a customized oral appliance known as a myofunctional orthotic (MFO). For children, a myofunctional therapy treatment involves helping your child correct improper habits and improving his or her oral functions. The therapy involves exercises that aim at correcting jaw positioning, tongue posture, and breathing habits.

Myofunctional therapy can address the underlying causes of malocclusion, such as tongue thrusting, poor oral habits, and incorrect swallowing patterns. When these underlying issues are corrected, malocclusion can be resolved.

What Is Tongue Thrusting?

Tongue thrusting is the incorrect positioning of the tongue during speech, swallowing, and resting. It can affect the function of the tongue, teeth, and jaw. Tongue thrusting may lead to several dental problems, including:

Open bite
Crossbite
Crooked teeth
Overbite
Underbite
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
Snoring
Mouth breathing

What Are the Signs of Orthodontic Relapse?

If your previous orthodontist has told you that your orthodontic treatment was unsuccessful or is recurring, Myofunctional therapy may help.

One of the most common signs of relapse is pain. Pain can occur when the muscles surrounding the tooth are sore from shifting. This pain may be felt in the jaw joint or near the ears.

Myofunctional Therapy and Orthodontic Relapse / Tongue Thrust

If your orthodontic treatment has failed and your teeth are shifting back to their original position, you may need myofunctional therapy. It can correct these shifts by improving muscle function and correcting oral habits.

The tongue posture will be correct after the myofunctional therapy, and the muscles of the orofacial complex will be in balance. Because of this, there’s a much higher chance that the outcome of orthodontic treatment will be stable over the long term.

Contact us today for a free consultation!
Please reach out to us with any questions, comments, or inquiries you may have.

MYO-SPIR, LLC
(425) 375-5059
tiffanyw@myospir.com