MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY

‍

If your child is swallowing incorrectly, breathing through their mouth frequently, sucking their thumb, or has other poor habits, this could affect their oral health and development. And even in adults, these patterns can contribute to orthodontic issues and affect quality of life.

But at Inspira Advanced Dentistry, our doctors are here to help. We offer advanced, interdisciplinary treatment with myofunctional therapy in Campbell, CA. With our team on your side, you can take steps to correct your child’s habits, encourage healthier oral development, and put them on a path to a lifetime of healthy smiles.

What Is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy uses a variety of stretches, exercises, and other physical therapy techniques to correct orofacial myofunctional disorders or OMDs for short. These disorders include things like mouth breathing, improper swallowing, and other undesirable habits. 

Myofunctional therapy is usually used for children, though adult myofunctional therapy may also be recommended for older patients in some cases. Treating orofacial myofunctional disorders is extremely important for kids. If left untreated, they can cause serious oral health problems as your child’s teeth, mouth, and jaws develop.

Tongue thrusting, for example, is a common habit in kids. It consists of pushing the tongue against the front teeth while speaking, swallowing, or even while the tongue is resting. It may surprise you, but over time, the pressure of tongue thrusting can actually alter the position of your child’s teeth and lead to bite problems, speech issues, and improper tooth alignment.

With myofunctional therapy, the dentists at Inspira Advanced Dentistry can diagnose your child, get to the root of their “bad habits,” and provide techniques, exercises, and other resources that can help them get back on track.

The benefits of myofunctional therapy

Choosing myofunctional therapy for yourself or your child has lots of benefits. Here are just a few of them:

• Improved breathing
• Better overall sleep quality
• Eliminate harmful oral habits
• Ensure proper oral development in kids
• Improve clarity of speech
• Enhance overall oral health
• Reduce or eliminate the need for orthodontics in the future
• Lower risk of TMJ/TMD, sleep apnea, and other disorders

Who Is A Good Candidate For Myofunctional Therapy?

Anyone with an OMD may be a good candidate for myofunctional therapy, regardless of age. Myofunctional therapy is typically recommended for kids, but may be appropriate for adult patients in some cases. You or your child may be a good candidate if you have issues such as:

‍

• Tongue thrust – Tongue thrust occurs when the tongue is in contact with the teeth when swallowing, speaking, or at rest. This is also sometimes called a “reverse swallow” if it mostly happens when swallowing food.
• Open mouth posture – This occurs when your child’s mouth is open at rest. Mouth breathing is also quite common in patients with open mouth posture.
  
  
• Speech impediments – If your child is unable to speak clearly, it’s possible that this is caused by an OMD that’s interfering with their oral development. This is especially likely if your child has issues making “s” or “sh” sounds.
  
  
• Thumb sucking – Over time, thumb sucking can interfere with proper oral development and lead to problems like crooked teeth, a narrow palate, and other orthodontic problems.
  
  

It may not always be possible to recognize OMDs on your own. If you suspect your child has an OMD, it’s best to work with a pediatrician, speech-language pathologist, or a dentist specializing in myofunctional therapy to properly diagnose their issues.

CTA: Find Out if You're a Candidate for Myofunctional Therapy

Common Myofunctional Therapy Exercises

Not sure what myofunctional therapy exercises may be recommended for you or for your child as part of your treatment plan? The exact treatment plan tends to vary based on each patient’s age, their specific OMD, their oral development, and many other factors. However, myofunctional therapy typically includes most of the following types of exercises:

Facial muscle strengthening

OMDs can often be caused or worsened by imbalances in facial muscles. Children who tongue thrust or have a reverse swallow, for example, may have learned this habit due to issues with the muscles in their jaws, lips, and other parts of their face. Facial muscle exercises can be used to help strengthen these muscles, restore balance, and correct common OMDs.

Tongue positioning exercises

For patients who have OMDs related to the positioning of their tongue, a variety of tongue positioning exercises may be used to “retrain” the position of the tongue. For example, in myofunctional therapy, a child may be taught exercises to strengthen their tongue, and to ensure the proper position (placed on the roof of the mouth) when swallowing. 

Breathing techniques

One of the primary goals of myofunctional therapy is to ensure proper oral posture, and this includes nasal breathing. Breathing through the nose helps filter allergens, improves oxygen uptake, warms and humidifies air, and more. Specialists can use a wide variety of breathing techniques and exercises to train both children and adults to avoid “mouth breathing” and encourage nasal breathing.

Changes in habits

In many cases, you may need to make changes to your child’s routine or lifestyle as part of their myofunctional therapy routine. For example, our dentists may encourage you to move on from using sippy cups, eliminate pacifiers, take steps to make sure that your child’s nasal passages are clear, and more.

Myofunctional Therapy Works Best With An Integrated Approach

Treatment for OMDs can be complex, and should involve multiple medical professionals, especially for kids. At Inspira Advanced Dentistry, our team can work closely with your child’s pediatrician and speech-language pathologist to ensure that they get the best possible care.

Why Choose Inspira Advanced Dentistry For Myofunctional Therapy?

At Inspira Advanced Dentistry, our doctors have decades of combined experience in treating both children and adults with OMDs. Led by Dr. Stephanie Loller, our dental team includes four dentists and two specialists in Campbell, CA. We understand how challenging it can be for parents to deal with OMDs in their children, and we provide patient, understanding, and gentle care for kids of all ages.

‍

We know how difficult it can be to keep your child’s treatment on track, too. That’s why we’ll always provide plenty of techniques you can use at home, tips on how to make sure your little one keeps up with their treatments, and advice on lifestyle changes you can make to protect your child’s oral health and development.

Treatment Cost & Financing Options

The cost of myofunctional therapy in Campbell can vary based on the specifics of your case or your child’s case. Typically, it will cost between $100 and $250 per session. However, if myofunctional therapy is necessary to correct an orofacial myofunctional disorder, it may be partly or fully covered by your insurance plan.

‍

Along with insurance, we offer financing options at Inspira Advanced Dentistry that allow you to split up the cost of your treatment or your child’s treatment. This makes it easier to get the care you need without going over budget. For more information and to see if you qualify, just ask one of our team members during your visit to our office.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What conditions does myofunctional therapy treat?

Myofunctional therapy treats a wide variety of orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) including things like mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, thumb sucking, and much more.

How long does therapy typically last?

Most patients will need about 6-12 months of therapy. This includes office visits, as well as routines and exercises that patients or parents will need to make sure are done at home.

Are results from myofunctional therapy permanent?

Yes, but only if therapy leads to permanent changes in your habits or your child’s habits. Even after you stop seeing Dr. Loller and our team, it may be necessary to continue doing exercises at home indefinitely to maintain your results.

Does insurance cover myofunctional therapy?

This depends on your insurer, what condition your child is diagnosed with, and a few other factors. In some cases, a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) from a doctor may be required in order to get insurance coverage. For more information about what your plan covers, we recommend consulting directly with your insurer.

Get Help With OMDs – Contact Inspira Advanced Dentistry!

Whether you’re struggling with an OMD as an adult or you think that your child may have an issue like mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, or anything else, our team is here to help. The dentists at Inspira Advanced Dentistry offer expert care for kids, as well as adult myofunctional therapy to help you restore your oral health and enhance your well-being.

So don’t wait. Give us a call at (408) 298-0777 or contact our team online to set up your first appointment. Whether you’re looking to keep your child’s oral development on track or you need help correcting issues like sleep apnea or mouth breathing as an adult, Dr. Loller and our dentists are always here to help.