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Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy and Osteopathic Treatment
Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is an evidence-based modality designed to assess and treat functional disorders of the muscles of the face, mouth, and tongue. These disorders often manifest in atypical swallowing patterns, improper tongue posture, mouth breathing, and other habits that can influence dental alignment and overall oral health. Combining hands-on osteopathic treatment with OMT provides a holistic method to address orofacial dysfunction and assist with dental malocclusion.
What Is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?
Orofacial myofunctional therapy is a specialised therapeutic approach that focuses on retraining the muscles of the face, lips, tongue, and jaw to achieve optimal function. This therapy is conducted by trained orofacial myologists, who address issues such as tongue thrust, incorrect swallowing, mouth breathing, and poor oral posture. Through a combination of exercises, behavioural modifications, and education, OMT aims to restore normal muscle patterns.
Common conditions addressed by OMT include:
Orofacial Myology and Dental Malocclusion
Dental malocclusion refers to the misalignment of teeth and jaws, which can lead to functional and aesthetic concerns. Orofacial myology plays a critical role in supporting dental malocclusion by targeting the underlying muscle patterns that contribute to abnormal dental development.
Through targeted exercises and habit correction, OMT helps:
These improvements can facilitate orthodontic treatment, improve stability of dental corrections, and reduce the risk of relapse after braces or other interventions.
Osteopathic Treatment and OMT
Osteopaths use hands-on techniques to assess and treat musculoskeletal imbalances, restrictions, and tension throughout the body, including the head, neck, and jaw. When integrated with orofacial myofunctional therapy, osteopathic treatment can address structural barriers that impede optimal muscle function.
Benefits of combining osteopathy with OMT include:
Integrative Care for Orofacial Dysfunctions
By combining orofacial myofunctional therapy with hands-on osteopathic treatment, patients receive a comprehensive approach that addresses both the functional and structural aspects of orofacial health. Collaboration between orofacial myologists, osteopaths, and dental professionals ensures that underlying muscle patterns, habits, and biomechanical issues are simultaneously managed. Our osteopaths work collaboratively with various functional dentist throughout Melbourne. Working collaboratively supports functional growth and development of the jaws, face and cranial structures.
Malocclusion and Dental Issues
Malocclusion and dental issues are often associated with orofacial myofunctional disorders, such as harmful habits like mouth-breathing, thumb-sucking, pacifier use, incorrect swallow patterns, tongue thrusting, weak orofacial muscles, tongue and lip ties. These can disturb the natural growth of the face and jaws resulting in crooked teeth, gum disease, open bite, jaw dysfunction and relapses in orthodontic treatment.
Orofacial myofunctional therapy, cranial osteopathy and breathing training can help patients of all ages to correct any of these dysfunctions, and often work very well alongside any type of orthodontic treatment.
Collaborative treatment
Orofacial myofunctional therapy is a vital tool for addressing dysfunctional muscle patterns that contribute to dental malocclusion and other oral health issues. When combined with hands-on osteopathic treatment, patients are offered a holistic pathway to improved muscle function, structural balance, and lasting dental health. This collaborative approach supports not only the correction of malocclusion but also the development of lifelong habits for optimal orofacial wellbeing.