Dental Hygienists

How Orofacial Myology Can Benefit Your Patients

Presenting at the Ottawa Dental Hygienists Society

Our Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist, Alicia Proper OMT RDH, is presenting a live online webinar for the Ottawa Dental Hygienists Society on April. 26th 2023 from 7 to 9pm EST. 

To find out more and sign up for this exciting talk, click here: 

You See The Damage Caused By Orofacial Muscle Disorders Every Day

I graduated Dental Hygiene from John Abbott College in 2007. 

I have seen what Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can do for your patients. 

After studying Orofacial Myology I understand why so many of my patient's disorders throughout my years were left unanswered and without productive referrals.


Patients that have jaws that get tired, crunch, crack, click, or are unable to open wide. Chronic headaches with no etiology. Unexplained mobile teeth (no perio involvement). Ortho that relapses. Frequent caries and rolled red gingiva in mouths that floss. Overnight dry mouth with or without medication. Healthier patients with increasing blood pressure. Calling crowded/crooked teeth "genetic" and then doing nothing until it is time for ortho. All of these disorders do have answers. 


Let us work together, igniting a myriad of health advantages in the short and long-term for your patients.

Do Your Patients Have Any of these symptoms?

  • Chronic headaches.

  • Open bites.

  • Relapsing ortho.

  • Excellent oral hygiene, yet prone to caries with rolled red gingiva.

  • Sleep disordered breathing (snoring or apnea diagnosis).

  • Sinus infections or maxilla ghost pressure pains. 

  • Mobile teeth or bone loss without perio.

  • Narrow palates/jaws. 

  • Unexplained facial, jaw, neck or upper back pain.

  • Jaw discomforts, clicking, crunching, cracking, limited range of motion.

  • The many types of teeth crowding/crooked.

  • Dry mouth overnight. 

  • These are all side-effects of detrimental habits which can be improved

Some of the Orofacial Dysfunctions We Re-Train

Mouth Breathing

Postural Problems

Mouth breathers tend to assume a characteristic posture in order to make their breathing easier. This entails carrying their heads forward in order to compensate for the restriction to their airways.20
The forward head posture often leads to: Muscle fatigue, neck pain, tension in the TMJ area, spinal disc compression, early arthritis, tension headaches, and dental occlusal problems.21

"If mouth breathing is treated early, its negative effects on facial and dental development, along with medical and social problems associated with it, can be reduced or averted"16

Mouth Breathing

Causes Long Face Syndrome11,16,19,23

Crooked Teeth

Narrow Jaw & Face

Poorly Defined Cheekbones

Jaw Set Back/Malocclusion

Underdeveloped Upper Airway (may experience more sinus infections & pressure)

Caries/Perio/Xerostomia

Dries out our bodies and mouths 42% more than nasal breathing, contributes to dehydration22

Causes cavities and gum disease23

Narrow Jaw & Palate, Crooked/Crowded Teeth

Soft Foods = Shrinking Jaws

Stanford University Article, Shrinking Jaws:36

"The shrinking of the human jaw in modern humans is not due to genetics but is a lifestyle disease that can be proactively addressed, according to Stanford researchers."
"One obvious factor is the softening of diets, especially with the relatively recent invention of processed foods. Also, less chewing is needed nowadays to extract adequate nutrition..."
"The proper development of the jaw and its associated soft tissues is guided by oral posture – the positioning of the jaws and the tongue during times when children are not eating or speaking. This positioning is especially important overnight during long sleep stretches, when swallowing maintains the correct, gentle pressures."

Tongue Thrust During Atypical Swallowing

Even an untoned tongue is made of 8 strong muscles. The tongue resting incorrectly puts considerable pressure against oral structures. These structures don't have the strength to resist causing bone loss around the teeth and tooth mobility (one cause of periodontal disease).17,18,19

Bone loss around specific teeth17,18
Tooth mobility17,18
Open bites17,18

Repetitive Non-Nutritive Oral Habits

Habits: Sucking thumb, finger, lips, or biting nails, cheeks, tongue, hair...etc.

Open Bites, Malocclusion, Crooked Teeth38,39,41,45

Narrow Jaw41,43,44

Vaulted Palate43,44

Tonsil/Adenoid infections/swelling53

Long Face Syndrome39,41,42,43,45

Ortho Relapse19

Sleep Disordered Breathing12

Asymmetrical Face39,41,42,43,45

When we consistently place something in the way of the oral structures and jaw, the anatomy will slowly form around this obstruction.39,41 Like a tree will form around a fence that is in its growth path. 
Formula: frequency + intensity + duration = negative dental and oral changes53
Placing the jaw in a repetitive incorrect position can cause severe muscle/tissue/joint strain.19

The Oral-Facial Advantage Program

Most programs last approximately 1 year.

Patients are seen weekly and assigned exercises that tone or relax the muscles in their head/neck region specific to their disorder.

You will be updated throughout their treatment progress.

At What Age Can Patients Begin Oral-Facial Muscle Therapy?

All ages.

The biggest impact can be made with children since their oral-facial structure and behavior is in a more flexible stage of growth. As adults, our muscles and tissues can be toned and relaxed where needed, making a large impact on how we age and the quality of life into our senior years. Make a difference in your health at any age.


Mature 3 to 4 year old mouth breathers can learn nasal breathing.

A mentally prepared 5 year old can begin the Oral Habit Elimination Program.

A 7 to 8 year old and up can start the Oral-Facial Advantage Program.


Who is Eligible for a Free Consult?

Everyone.

All ages can come in for a free consult. 

It is a great opportunity for the patient's questions to be answered and to meet the Orofacial Myologist.

Contact Us for Patient Referral Business Cards or to Book a Lunch & Learn

Please Ask Any Questions You Have

*Required

Sources

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