Welcome to our page on Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy.
What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT)?
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT), also known as myofunctional therapy, is a therapeutic modality that addresses dysfunctional muscle range of motion and tonicity in the mouth, face and throat. It involves exercises and techniques to strengthen and coordinate these muscles. We basically retrain the brain, neuroplasticity, to retrain the muscle function. This takes time, there are no quick overnight fixes to doing this for lasting results.
The goals of OMT are:
Nasal breathing
Lip seal
Proper tongue posture
Correct chewing and swallowing pattern
What it treats:
OMT is used to treat Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs), which are abnormal muscle movement patterns that can affect breathing, chewing, swallowing, and/or speech. These issues, if left untreated, will lead to other more chronic health issues.The body is wonderful at compensating, but this will come at a cost. Think of a sore foot. The other foot and leg compensate for the sore one, only to have the ‘good’ leg start to be sore or comprimised.
Please use the check list below to determine if you may have OMDs.
Nasal Breathing
What Are the Advantages of Nose Breathing Vs. the health related issues of Mouth Breathing? Please check out this Healthline Article to learn more.
Tongue Tie
These images show the different levels of tongue lift. The tongue lift or Tongue range of motion ration,(TRMR) is indicative of how much dysfunction the body could be or going to suffer. The higher the tongue can lift, without the floor of the mouth lifting, will tend to have far fewer OMDs. The more the tongue is tethered or tied down, the more OMDs in the body could be present. Some of these OMDs, not listed above, are crooked teeth, narrow jaws and narrow nasal passages. tongue-tied can cause numerous other issues throughout the body. Just being aware of this can give someone an opportunity to start a conversation about the concern and the benefits of taking corrective actions. We are here to help.
Tongue Placement
Ideally, and for best function, the full length of the tongue should be resting on the palate.
Allied Professional Team
Depending on the degree of dysfunction caused by poorly functioning muscles, other Allied Health Care Professionals(AHCP) may be called upon to help correct the symptoms of the dysfunction. Such Professionals range from ENT, Airway focused general Dentists specializing in airway orthodontics, airway focused Orthodontists, Osteopaths, Chiropractors, RMT, and Tongue-tie release Specialists. It often takes a team to correct the downstream negative effects of a tongue, and other facial muscles not working as they should.
I collaborate with great Allied Health Care Professionals (AHCP) in each of these health modalities. I offer my clients options and guide them to make the best decision possible to meet their needs. You, the client, are not left on your own to have to do this tedious legwork.
How does this work?
There is a process of discovery. Sometimes, it is a health care professional like myself a Registered Dental Hygienist, or a Dentist, Speech Language Pathologist, Airway focused Orthodontist, or Osteopath who may recognize the signs of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs), and make a referral. Some people recognize the signs for themselves or their child and call reach out to make an appointment. We first have a chat, where general health issues or the concerns of the referring AHCP are discussed. If there is a comfortable connection and the person would like to proceed to the next step, we then move on to a full Myofunctional assessment. This involves more of clinical step of information….photos of your body, face and mouth, and vidoes of the movement and function of your body, face and mouth. I take all kinds of measurements. You fill out questionnaires. I will then meet with you either in person or virtually to discuss my findings and treatment plan, and you decide if you’d like to go forward with plan.
Therapy
Is an individualized, yet somewhat standardized ( let the history of best methods and results guide) sets of exercises that the client does at home, and for best results, on a very consistent basis. As your Therapist, I provide you with a kit with the exercise tools you will need. I will meet with you, either in person or virtually, to teach you the exercises you are ready for and support you along the way.
I will introduce and make referrals to the AHCP we’ve agreed upon as need be. I work collaboratively with them, and we treat you as though you are part of the team, keeping each other informed of the progresses and challenges along the way.
We (client and I) ideally meet every week for the first 8 weeks, then biweekly for the next four or so months, then every third week for three or so months. The general program takes anywhere between 9 months to a year. These time frames are fluid as life is unpredictable.
What ages benefit therapy?
Newborns
Benefit from an assessment by a qualified Midwife, or IBCLC, or Myofunctional Therapist. If a tongue release is required to prevent much of the OMDs listed above, a referral to a Tongue-Tie release professional is advised. Parents are then taught to do stretches for their infant.
Children as young as 3yrs of age to Senior ages
Programs are adjusted to meet the needs of the individual. Some children have tenacious habits such as thumb sucking that can be corrected as short programs onto themselves. Young adults to Seniors who have additional symptoms and body dysfunction will require the 9 – 12 month program.
The key is, the younger a child is assessed and treated, the fewer ongoing symptoms and dysfunction there will be as they grow older.
Education
There are many avenues to becoming a Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist. Nicole began her journey in the Winter of 2021/2022 and graduated from the AOMT in May of 2022. Since then she has been guiding and assisting clients in need of better health outcomes. Few of these educational avenues offer a certification program. Nicole is a Certified Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist as of February 2025.
For more information, please reach out or schedule an appointment.
705.533.3600
info@genesisdentalhygienecare.ca