Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Program

Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) addresses the oral structures (lips, tongue, jaw, cheeks and palate) and their impact on swallowing skills and oral rest posture. OMT is based on the neuromuscular re-education or re-patterning of the oral and facial muscles, and includes facial exercises and behavior modification techniques to promote proper tongue position, improved breathing, chewing and swallowing.  Incorrect chewing and swallowing and/or incorrect tongue position may have a negative effect on your child’s:

• Dental alignment and dental development
• Ability to sleep effectively
• Ability to breathe effectively
• Feeding skills such as ability to move food around in the mouth
• Development of oral muscles and facial muscles
• Speech skills
• Oral hygiene (bad breath, cavities)
• Social interactions (open mouth breathing, tongue out of mouth, drooling)

• Difficulty breathing through the nose due to allergies, enlarged tonsils, or enlarged adenoids
• Tongue tie
• Open mouth breathing
• Narrow roof of mouth (palate)
• Forward tongue movement during speech and/or swallowing

Additional issues that may contribute to an orofacial myofunctional disorder include:

• Prolonged pacifier use
• Prolonged thumb, finger or tongue sucking

Your dentist or orthodontist may identify these signs during a routine office visit and may recommend an orofacial myofunctional evaluation.

Our OMT specialists are trained in the evaluation and treatment of swallowing and orofacial myofunctional disorders.