San Francisco and Marin CA
Have you heard of myofunctional therapy? If not, you are not alone. A rather new element to oral health care, myofunctional therapy can be used to correct negative oral habits and even help in the treatment of sleep breathing disorders.
What is myofunctional therapy?
Also referred to as orofacial myology or orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT), myofunctional therapy consists of a course of exercises that seeks to “re-train” the tongue, lips, mouth, and facial muscles.
The exercises involved in a regimen of myofunctional therapy are simple, and often can be performed with minimal discomfort. The typical course of myofunctional therapy lasts at least six months.
Is myofunctional therapy right for me?
Myofunctional therapy has proven successful in treating the following orofacial problems and disorders:
- Chewing with an open mouth
- Mouth breathing
- Problems swallowing
- Difficulty chewing
- Poor resting position of the tongue
- Effects of thumb sucking
- Tongue thrust
Myofunctional therapy even has been used to treat sleep breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, a serious condition that can cause disruptions to breathing hundreds of times during a given evening and increases the likelihood of serious, life-threatening conditions such as cardiac disease and high blood pressure.
Whereas the traditional treatment of sleep apnea is the use of a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device that is worn while a person sleeps, myofunctional therapy treats the disorder by addressing the root problem—blockages in the airway. This is accomplished by restoring an ideal resting position of the mouth and tongue with lips closed, teeth closed, and tongue resting against the palate.
Trust in our training
It takes special training and education to be able to design a course of myofunctional therapy for patients. Our staff has this special expertise and can use it to improve your orofacial balance.
If you want to learn more about myofunctional therapy and its benefits, contact our office by calling (415) 585-1500 to schedule an appointment.
Glen Park Dental provides comprehensive, compassionate, quality oral health care for patients in the areas of San Francisco and Marin California.
