Is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Right for You?

Orofacial myofunctional therapy in West Salem, WI, consists of a series of exercises designed to strengthen the muscles of your tongue, mouth, and face. Our targeted therapy helps to improve breathing, eating, and speaking skills and can even eliminate some disorders altogether.

Common Examples of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders

The typical causes of orofacial myofunctional disorders include thumb-sucking or pacifier use past age one, blocked nasal passages, and an incorrect tongue position. Dr. Jim Allen or Dr. Mark Mueller uses a surgery-free and drug-free approach to re-train the muscles in your face, tongue, or mouth. The exercises you or your child undergo at Allen Dental teach your brain, muscles, and nerves to work together in a more efficient manner.

Types of Conditions Treated by Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

If your partner complains that you snore or you have developed obstructive sleep apnea, this treatment is a simple and inexpensive way to address both problems. Below are several other conditions Dr. Allen or Dr. Mueller can treat using these techniques.

• Improve the ability to chew and swallow after surgery to correct a dental or facial deformity.
• Improve speech.
• Malocclusion, the term used to describe crooked teeth, crowded teeth, and teeth that form an overbite or underbite. We typically recommend orofacial myofunctional therapy in conjunction with orthodontic treatment.
• Tongue thrust, which is an issue that arises in infancy and can continue into late childhood. Left untreated, tongue thrust can cause bite problems, speech issues, and protrusion of teeth.

Sometimes, it isn’t always obvious that you or your child have an issue that our dentists can address with re-training exercises. Speech problems, mouth breathing, lips that remain apart while resting, and frequent gagging are just some indications of a possible problem. Please contact us to schedule an evaluation or to learn more about orofacial myofunctional therapy in West Salem, WI.