Myofunctional Therapy

What is myofunctional therapy?

Myofunctional therapy is also called orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) or orofacial myology. (myo = muscle, oro = mouth).

This discipline first evaluates the function of the facial and mouth muscles and then treats the disorders (orofacial myofunctional disorders – OMDs) through therapeutic exercises and behavioral modification. This can include habit elimination for thumb/finger/tongue sucking and fingernail biting.

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Many symptoms are associated with dysfunctions of the muscles of the facial and mouth. Do you or your child have or experience any of the following:
  • Crooked teeth
  • Relapse following braces
  • Mouth breathing
  • Headaches
  • Digestive problems
  • Tongue tie/ankyloglossia/tethered oral tissues (TOTs)
  • TMJ
  • Drooling
  • Clenching and/or grinding of teeth
  • Failure to thrive
  • Middle ear concerns
  • Habits such as, but not limited to, thumb/finger/tongue sucking, chewing on objects such as pens/pencils/fingernails, lip/cheek biting
  • Forward head posture
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Dr. Catherine Murphy understands the importance the muscles of the face and mouth have on the teeth, jaws and airway.
Dr. Murphy completed the intensive “Comprehensive Introduction to Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy” course given by Joy Moeller. This course answered many of the questions Dr. Murphy was not getting answers to through her typical continuing education classes. This course also showed her that many other professionals, outside of dentistry, were also seeking answers to symptoms that were showing up in the mouth, such as tongue thrust, teeth grinding and snoring.
Click to download a brochure from the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy explaining more about this interdisciplinary treatment.
DOWNLOAD BROCHURE (PDF)