Sometimes referred to as “oral motor disorders,” these are atypical, adaptive patterns that emerge in the absence of normalized patterns within the orofacial complex. The regular presence of these adaptive movements can often result in a variety of disturbances.

Examples of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders include one or a combination of the following:

• Thumb and finger sucking habits

• A routine habit of resting with the lips apart

• A forward resting posture of the tongue between or against the teeth

• Tongue Thrust

• Other harmful oral habits

What Can Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Accomplish?

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders are often related to, or can contribute to a variety of medical and dental disorders. These disorders can include:

• Malocclusion (improper alignment of the teeth)

• Periodontal disorders

• Orthodontic relapse

• Changes associated with abnormal jaw growth and position

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy involves an individualized program to help the patient retrain these adaptive patterns of muscle function, and to create and maintain a healthy orofacial environment. Treatment goals may include the following:

• Normalize tongue and lip resting postures

• Establish nasal breathing patterns

• Eliminate improper chewing and swallowing patterns

• Stabilize the dentition from extraneous orofacial muscle movement

• Address harmful oral habits including:

  • Prolonged pacifier use

  • Thumb and/or finger sucking

  • Fingernail, cheek, or lip biting

  • Tongue sucking

  • Clenching or grinding of the teeth

Benefits of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy may include:

• Correcting and improving tongue and lip postures which can aid in the development of normal patterns of dental eruption and alignment.

• Assisting in the stabilization of the teeth during and/or after orthodontic treatment or jaw surgery

• Identifying the need and referring for Speech treatment. Supporting the remediation of speech errors differently than some traditional methods (when working with a speech language pathologist trained in Orofacial Myology).