Myofunctional Therapy treatment

Myofunctional therapy is a treatment designed to correct abnormal muscle function and improve oral and facial muscle coordination through use of appliances and exercises.

Myofunctional therapy is used for a variety of reasons, including:

Improving Breathing Patterns 

It helps correct improper breathing habits, such as mouth breathing, by training individuals to breathe through their nose.

Supporting Healthy Growth and Development in children

For children, it can aid in the proper development of the oral and facial structures, potentially preventing future issues related to dental and skeletal development, and the need for extensive orthodontic treatment and jaw surgery in future.

Promoting Proper Oral Posture

Myofunctional therapy encourages correct oral posture, including proper tongue placement and lip closure, which is crucial for optimal dental and facial development. If left untreated this open mouth posture can lead to asthma, recurrent tonsillitis, frequent ear, nose and throat infections.

Supporting Orthodontic Treatment 

It can be completed in conjunction with orthodontic treatments to maintain and enhance the results by addressing muscle-related issues that might affect tooth alignment. Correcting muscle posture is essential to avoid orthodontic treatment relapse in future.

Alleviating Sleep Disorders 

For those with sleep apnea or snoring issues, myofunctional therapy can help by improving airway function and muscle tone around the throat, leading to reduced snoring and improved sleep quality.

Relieving TMJ Discomfort

The therapy can help in reducing discomfort associated with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders by improving muscle function and reducing strain on the jaw.

Enhancing Facial Aesthetics

By improving muscle tone and function, myofunctional therapy can contribute to better facial symmetry and aesthetics.

Correcting Swallowing Issues 

It helps in retraining swallowing patterns, which can be beneficial for individuals with difficulty swallowing or those who have developed dysfunctional swallowing habits.

Reducing dysphagia and gag reflex

Prevents dysphagia and can reduce the symptom of gag reflex.

These benefits make myofunctional therapy a valuable tool for addressing a range of functional, developmental, and orthodontic issues.

Treatment at Urban Dental Studio

At Urban Dental Studio our dentist, Dr Carol Freitas, provides myofunctional therapy for patients ranging from 3 years old to adulthood, offering a variety of treatments tailored to different needs and stages of development. Each treatment plan is individually designed to address patients concerns and goals.

The treatment will consist of a combination of exercises along with the addition of myofunctional appliances.

Carol is passionate in helping both children and adults with fundamental concerns, such as underdeveloped jaw, teeth grinding, poor sleep, open mouth posture through mouth breathing. Treating these concerns through a holistic approach using myofunctional therapy, Carol creates meaningful change to help prevent the need for extensive specialist treatment.  

At your consultation we will discuss your individual needs and perform tests to ascertain whether Myofunctional treatment would benefit your specific needs.