What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT)?
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, or OMT, consists of neurological re-education exercises to help with the normalization of function of the orofacial muscles. Basically, we help you train mouth and facial muscles to work as they should!
The main goals of OMT are eliminating oral habits, habituating nasal breathing and maintaining a proper oral rest posture both day and night. Achieving these goals will help promote healthy growth and development of the face and airway, can positively impact sleep quality, and help stabilize TMJ health.
The main goals of OMT are eliminating oral habits, habituating nasal breathing and maintaining a proper oral rest posture both day and night. Achieving these goals will help promote healthy growth and development of the face and airway, can positively impact sleep quality, and help stabilize TMJ health.
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) are disorders of the muscles and functions of the face and mouth. OMDs may affect, directly and/or indirectly, breastfeeding, facial skeletal growth and development, chewing, swallowing, speech, occlusion, temporomandibular joint movement, oral hygiene, stability of orthodontic treatment, facial esthetics, and more.
Most OMDs originate with insufficient habitual nasal breathing or with oral breathing. The subsequent adaptation of the muscles and the orofacial functions to a disordered breathing pattern creates many OMDs. Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders may impact treatments by orthodontists, dentists, dental hygienists, speech-language pathologists, and other professionals working in the orofacial area.
Source: Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
For additional information about why we do what we do, check out the International Association of Orofacial Myology website.