Expert Myofunctional Therapy Near You for Better Oral Function
Tongue-tie Treatment
Changing the way you live and breathe.
What Are Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders?
An Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD) can simply be defined as a disorder that impacts the muscles, movements, and functions of the face and mouth. An OMD can present itself in a multitude of ways, including:
What Are the Signs of an Airway Issue?
Many Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders trace back to the same root cause: an airway that isn’t getting enough room to work properly. When breathing through the nose is difficult, whether from a narrow palate, enlarged tonsils, allergies, or weak facial muscles, the body compensates in ways that show up day and night. Common signs include:
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Infant Lip-Tie and Breastfeeding
Struggling to nurse? It could be a lip-tie.
A lip-tie occurs when the small band of tissue connecting the upper lip to the gums (the labial frenulum) is too tight or too thick, restricting how far the lip can flange outward. This can make it difficult for a baby to form a deep, effective latch, leading to a frustrating feeding experience for both mother and baby.
Signs Your Baby May Have a Lip-Tie
Why Early Evaluation Matters
Because a lip-tie can directly affect how well a newborn is able to transfer milk, catching it early can make a meaningful difference in feeding comfort and infant weight gain. Left unaddressed, some babies compensate in ways that lead to further oral or airway habits later in childhood, which is why we look at lip-ties as part of the bigger picture of orofacial development, not just an isolated feeding issue.
What Treatment Looks Like
If a lip-tie is limiting your baby’s ability to nurse comfortably, a simple laser frenectomy can release the restriction in just a few minutes, right in our office. The procedure is minimally invasive, involves little to no bleeding, and most babies are able to nurse again almost immediately afterward.
After the release, we’ll show you simple, gentle aftercare stretches to help prevent the tissue from reattaching as it heals. We’ll walk you through each step so you feel confident doing them at home.
Wondering if your baby’s feeding struggles are related to a lip-tie? Give us a call. An evaluation is quick, and getting answers early can make nursing easier for you both.
How Big Of A Deal Are Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders – Really?
While the list of signs and symptoms associated with Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders may not seem alarming in and of themselves, OMDs can lead to lifelong problems. Even slight deviations from normal facial and mouth movements can cause prolonged difficulties, such as the ones mentioned above.
Can Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders Be Corrected?
Yes, and you’ve come to the right place! One of the biggest challenges with OMDs is that they are often under-recognized. Although modern science is making dentists more aware of the issues tied to OMDs, there are still too many dental professionals who aren’t trained in myofunctional therapy and may not fully understand its importance. The good news is that we do.
Our dental team in Warren & Chester, New Jersey, is passionate about helping individuals and families impacted by orofacial myofunctional disorders by offering extensive myofunctional therapy as a part of our comprehensive dental care in New Jersey. Throughout the process of receiving oral therapy, the patient can expect personalized care and results that lead to an improved quality of life.
What Is Myofunctional Therapy, And Who Needs It?
Any child or adult who has received a diagnosis for an OMD or suspects that they have problems associated with an OMD should talk to a dentist about receiving myofunctional therapy. The simple treatment at Children’s Dental Specialists & Adult Dentistry provides you with much-needed insight and support throughout the process of learning new habits and re-training your brain as you teach your face and mouth muscles to perform new, healthier tasks. Small steps taken with dedication and perseverance can go a long way in improving your overall appearance and well-being.
Although we encourage parents of small children to begin the process of myofunctional therapy as early in life as possible, we also emphasize the fact that it’s never too late to start getting help. Our compassionate and knowledgeable team can work with patients of all ages to make positive changes for life.
What Is Myobrace®?
Myobrace® is a system of removable, custom-fit appliances that targets the habits behind crooked teeth rather than just straightening the teeth themselves. Traditional braces move teeth into position but don’t address the mouth breathing, tongue posture, or swallowing patterns that caused the crowding in the first place. Myobrace works differently.
The appliances are worn for one to two hours during the day plus overnight while sleeping, gently guiding the jaws and teeth toward their natural position. Alongside the appliance, patients complete a short daily set of Myobrace Activities: breathing, tongue, swallowing, lip, and cheek exercises designed to retrain the muscles causing the problem. Paired with myofunctional therapy, Myobrace addresses both the skeletal development and the muscle function behind an OMD, giving growing patients a real chance at correcting the issue rather than managing around it.
Myobrace is designed for children roughly ages three through fifteen, with many kids seeing the best results between ages six and ten while permanent teeth are still coming in. Ask our team whether Myobrace fits into your child’s treatment plan.
What Can I Expect From Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy requires a cooperative relationship between the patient and the dentist. While the dentist lends their expertise, the patient must be willing to put in the work to correct their disorder.
Here’s what to expect throughout the process:
When Can I Begin Myofunctional Therapy?
If you suspect that you may have an orofacial myofunctional disorder, please schedule an appointment with our office immediately. We are also happy to offer a second opinion if you or your child have been diagnosed with an OMD by a different office. We will thoroughly evaluate your oral health along with your facial and mouth movements in order to develop a full picture of what may be needed for treatment. The sooner we are able to evaluate you, the faster we can begin myofunctional therapy and restore your mouth to full health.
Do you have additional questions or concerns regarding orofacial myofunctional disorders or myofunctional therapy? Dr. Justine Chase studied orofacial myofunctional therapy extensively and, with the help of registered dental hygienist Lee, is able to treat OMDs in both children and adults. Reach out to learn more about our therapy and to schedule a consultation today.