Orofacial Myology Therapy – Franklin, TN
Tongue Thrust Therapies for Healthy, Pain-Free Smiles
What is Orofacial Myology Therapy?
Orofacial myology therapy, typically referred to simply as OMT, is treatment geared toward teaching the oral and facial structures to rest in the proper position to avoid muscle and joint strain, dental damage, breathing issues, and other conditions. Proper rest posture is described as a closed mouth, tongue resting on the palate (top of the mouth), slightly separated molars (back teeth), and nasal breathing. Any deviation from this ideal rest posture can lead to health concerns. For instance, a patient who clenches teeth together all day long rather than allowing them to remain apart may struggle with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction due to excessive strain placed on these joints that connect the jaw to the skull bone. Patients whose tongues rest forward against the teeth or between them can exacerbate orthodontic alignment concerns like over, under, and crossbite. In the past, medical and dental professionals have focused treatment on just tackling one symptom at a time, but when the underlying cause isn’t addressed, patients are much more likely to relapse and experience further concerns. That’s where OMT comes in. These therapies address the underlying causes of the concern and help patients learn to keep a proper resting position. A number of different oral health and developmental concerns may lead to a need for OMT, including:
- Thumb, pacifier, or bottle usage past the age of 5
-
Severe open, over, under, or crossbite &
other tooth alignment issues - Tongue thrusting too far forward
- Mouth breathing and sleep disordered breathing
- Impeded or unclear speech
-
Lip or tongue tie training the mouth
to rest improperly
What are the Warning Signs?
Tongue thrust
Teeth grinding & clenching
Speech problems
Mouth breathing
Sleep disordered breathing
The Path Forward
Dr. Paige Prather strives to meet the needs of all her patients to allow you and your family to benefit from the best care possible. Our lip-tie and tongue-tie specialty dental office offers many areas of specialty services, including orofacial myology therapy. Our team is uniquely qualified to help families dealing with the challenges of lip and tongue-ties. Using the latest research, technology, and training, she provides the solutions you need to improve your child’s quality of life and dental health.
Passion-Centered Care
Treating orofacial myology disorders is a passion of Dr. Paige. As a mother of two sons who were born with tethered oral tissues, she understands the unique challenges you face as a parent of a child who has this problem.
Lip and tongue-ties can make breastfeeding difficult while also causing complications with chewing, swallowing, and speaking. If the problem is not corrected early, it can lead to issues with facial development. In some cases, it can impact their dental health while also changing their facial esthetics.
With first-hand knowledge from a parent’s perspective, Dr. Paige strives to deliver the comfortable and effective solutions you need to change your child’s life.
Benefit from Early Intervention
When the orofacial muscles and tissues do not develop correctly, it can lead to serious complications that can affect your child’s life in several areas. Although it may only be a small section of skin, it can create big problems as they age.
The average person swallows 500 to 1000 times per day. If the tongue is tied, it can press against the teeth, causing them to spread. This is often referred to as a tongue thrust, which results from constant pressure on the teeth.
This can make it difficult for the teeth to erupt correctly while also causing an abnormal bite. If the upper and lower teeth do not align properly, this can lead to difficulty biting, chewing, swallowing, and digesting food as your child ages.
When the bite and alignment of your child’s teeth are affected, it can cause cosmetic issues as well, which may leave them feeling insecure about their appearance. Due to improper oral functions, the muscles can be left weak, resulting in a dull or sluggish look. In some cases, the lips may be left partially open, giving the chin a knobby look.
When you combine the improper placement of the teeth with weak facial muscles, speech problems are common. It is not unusual for a child to develop a lisp or have difficulty pronouncing certain sounds correctly.
Over time, poor oral function can lead to a wide array of additional complications, such as temporomandibular joint disorders, which can cause chronic jaw pain, headaches, and more. In some cases, breathing disorders, like sleep apnea, can also result from weakened oral muscles.
Thankfully, with early intervention, the potential complications can easily be avoided.
What Happens During OMT?
Jamie
Myofunctional Therapist
Get to Know Jamie
Dental Hygienist/Myofunctional Therapist
Jamie joined our dental office in 2021, and she has nearly 30 years of dental experience overall! She loves everything about being a hygienist—seeing people smile after a cleaning, enjoying that fresh feeling, plus she likes watching kids show off their shining teeth to mom and dad. She graduated from the Northeast Community College Dental Hygiene School and has training in laser dentistry. Jamie and her husband Jamie (yes, they have the same name!) have a son and daughter, and she likes to relax by doing crafts with friends or having a glass of wine while watching her favorite show, Chicago P.D.
Common Misconceptions About OMT
Many patients believe OMT is just therapy for patients with tongue thrust. This is not the case. The treatments will help patients with tongue thrust, but this is just a symptom of a bigger problem, so the goal of OMT is address the underlying causes of these disorders rather than simply helping patients stop thrusting their tongues while swallowing, chewing, speaking, or at rest. Additionally, many people think that only kids need to receive OMT. While the majority of patients who receive OMT are young, adults may also benefit from these treatments to improve clarity of speech, restore healthy dental function, increase the benefits of sleep apnea therapy, & more.
Finally, many people consider OMT to be unnecessary. If a child naturally develops in a different way, why should we force them to change? In most cases, we agree with you. We want kids to be themselves! However, when patients in need of OMT don’t receive the care they need, the results can be detrimental to oral and overall health, increasing risk for orthodontic alignment issues, tooth decay, TMJ dysfunction, sleep apnea, and speech impediment among other concerns. If you or your child need OMT, let our team help you develop healthy, natural function that looks and feels great for years to come.