Myofunctional Therapy

Orofacial Physical Therapy to Establish Proper Oral Function

Glaser Dental’s Myofunctional Therapy is an example of how we do dental differently – using a whole health approach to oral care that focuses on education, health, and wellness.

What is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional Therapy is an individualized program of exercises focused on the muscles of the face, lips, tongue, and mouth. These exercises address various issues, retraining the muscles to improve breathing, misaligned bites, speech problems, and orofacial posture. When the proper function is achieved, improvements may improve overall health, like a domino effect, as therapy to address one issue often solves more than one concern.

What are Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders?

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) are disorders of the muscles and functions of the face and mouth. OMDs can directly or indirectly impact facial growth & esthetics, chewing, swallowing, speech, orthodontic stability, jaw movements, oral hygiene, breastfeeding, and more. Myofunctional Therapy helps identify and treat OMDs.

Meet Our Therapist

Brittany Peltier is a Registered Dental Hygienist trained in Myofunctional Therapy. She works harmoniously with our dental team to provide a personalized treatment plan that targets the root causes of your concerns, ensuring lasting improvements in functionality.

Brittany Beitzel

Our Approach

Every smile tells a unique story, and we’re here to help you rewrite yours with a focus on balance and harmony. Our Myofunctional Therapy approach revolves around the following:

1. Comprehensive Assessment

We thoroughly evaluate your oral and facial muscles, identifying any imbalances or dysfunctions that might impact oral health.

2. Customized Treatment Plans

Brittany will collaborate with Dr. Glaser to design a tailored treatment plan that addresses your needs, whether correcting tongue posture, improving breathing patterns, or aligning your bite.

3. Education and Training

You actively participate in your journey to a healthier mouth. Brittany will educate you on exercises and techniques that empower you to retrain and strengthen your oral muscles for lasting results.

4. Holistic Wellness

Myofunctional Therapy extends beyond your dental chair. We consider how oral health connects to overall well-being, helping you achieve optimal health from the inside out.

What Issues Can Myofunctional Therapy Aid?

  • Mouth Breathing

  • Orthodontic Relapse

  • Chronic Tension

  • Toxic Oral Habits

  • Jaw Pain

  • Tongue Thrust

  • Snoring

  • Chronic Headaches

  • Grinding

  • Swallowing Difficulty

  • Sleep Apnea

Our bodies are designed for us to breathe out of our noses. It’s essential to learn how to leave the complications of mouth breathing behind. Myofunctional therapy can help you master this habit of breathing correctly and more efficiently.

Any factor that disturbs your sleep can harm your overall well-being, including impeding the oxygen supply to your brain. The most well-known solution is a CPAP machine. But it’s vital to know Myofunctional Therapy could serve as an adjunct to other obstructive sleep apnea treatments. Current data demonstrates that myofunctional therapy can decrease the apnea-hypopnea index by approximately 50% in adults and 62% in children. In addition, adults’ lowest oxygen saturations, snoring, and sleepiness outcomes improve. For more information, visit our Sleep Apnea page.

Orthodontic care to fix major oral concerns can be a lengthy process. Correcting oral myofunctional issues such as tongue thrust, swallowing habits, and low resting tongue posture is important for orthodontic success. Our therapist will check for issues and recommend a treatment plan to help ensure your orthodontic work will be long-lasting and successful.

Headaches happen for many reasons, including jaw pain, posture, and sleep disruptions. Myofunctional therapy often helps eliminate headaches from temporomandibular pain, poor sleep, and bad posture.

When the tongue is not correctly resting on the roof of the mouth, the jaw joint is not supported. When the tongue is low, the condyle shifts forward, often causing jaw pain. Dr. Glaser encourages patients to ask about myofunctional therapy which may teach you exercises and habits to mitigate the pain.

At Glaser Dental, we believe in comprehensive care beyond just treating teeth – because your oral health system is more complex than your smile. Our Myofunctional Therapy service merges advanced dental expertise with the science of orofacial function for a whole health approach to oral wellness.

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