More About OMT
Sometimes things don't work like they should.
The muscles of the face and mouth are designed to work together in a collaborative effort. The tongue should rest in the right place and the mouth should stay closed. Through Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT), we train patients in movements that relate to tongue placement, breathing, speaking, chewing, and swallowing to ensure the correct tongue and mouth placement.
When these two simple things happen, troublesome symptoms disappear and the big picture problems around braces, speech, jaw pain, and sleep apnea become much easier to treat.
It’s Not In Your Head
So many people suffer with problems and conditions that are completely addressable but after countless appointments and tests, they still don’t have relief. They begin to feel helpless because they still don’t know what’s wrong. Worse, others convince them that it’s all “in their head.”
What you may be experiencing is a problem that’s related to your breathing, bite or posture of the mouth and face. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) introduces training related to tongue placement, breathing, speaking, chewing and swallowing, help to address a wide range of health problems and conditions including:
– Tongue-tie
– Sleep apnea
– Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome
– Sleep disturbed breathing
– TMJ pain
– Orthodontic and surgical relapse
– Craniofacial growth and appearance – concerns
– Headaches and other facial and neck pain and tension
– Postural issues
By recognizing an orofacial myofunctional disorder early, you can help a child or adult overcome the hurdles that prevent them from using their mouths properly.
I’ve Always Been This Way…Why Change?
Your health isn’t about staying the same and you (or your partner) dealing with symptoms, because that’s just how we are or have always been. If you could thrive in your life instead of just survive, would you want to?
This Is The First Time Anyone Has Ever Told Me
Were you surprised to hear that you may need myofunctional therapy? We hear this all of the time. Most providers do not learn anything about tongue tie and oral function in school. We have to specialize and continue to learn when we are out of school. When we know more, we do better! This is why you are here!
Additional Resources for OMT
Academy of Orofacial Myofuctional Therapy – See Website
Frequently Asked Questions in OMT
American Academy of Physiological Medicine & Dentistry – See Website
Recommended Reading:
Tongue-Tied: How a Tiny String Under the Tongue Impacts Nursing, Speech, Feeding, and More
Recommended Reading:
Sleep Wrecked Kids: Helping Parents Raise Happy, Healthy Kids, One Sleep at a Time
Recommended Reading:
Journal Laryngoscope – Lingual frenuloplasty with myofunctional therapy: Exploring safety and efficacy in 348 cases
Author: Soroush Zaghi MD
Recommended Reading:
NIH Abstract: Myofunctional Therapy to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Conclusion:
Current literature demonstrates that myofunctional therapy decreases apnea-hypopnea index by approximately 50% in adults and 62% in children. Lowest oxygen saturations, snoring, and sleepiness outcomes improve in adults. Myofunctional therapy could serve as an adjunct to other obstructive sleep apnea treatments.
© Tri-State Myofunctional Therapy
Serving Hagerstown and Frederick, MD - Martinsburg, WV and beyond
Address
201 Prospect Ave
Hagerstown, MD 21742
Hours
Sunday – Closed
Monday – 11am – 7pm
Tuesday – 11am – 6pm
Wednesday – 11am–5pm
Thursday – Closed
Friday – 1pm – 5pm
Saturday – Closed