Myofunctional therapy is a program of exercises that helps you stop oral
and facial habits that can ruin your smile, change your appearance and
sap your health. It retrains the muscles of your mouth, jaw and face,
bringing them into harmony. And it instills new and positive habits to
make sure those changes last.
“Myo” can help you:
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STOP
a tongue thrust habit.
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START
breathing through your nose instead of your mouth.
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QUIT
thumb-sucking, nail-biting, lip/cheek-chewing or other poor habits.
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OVERCOME
unsightly manners of eating and drinking.
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IMPROVE
head-neck-body posture.
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PREVENT
or correct Long Face Syndrome.
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ESTABLISH
a harmonious oral environment.
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BETTER DEAL
with issues such as speech problems, sleep apnea, snoring,
digestion, clenching/grinding habits and TMJ disorders.
Do your face, mouth, and mannerisms signal a myofunctional disorder?
Contact OMT Health:
MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY IN-PERSON OR ONLINE
2660 Townsgate Road, Suite 450, Westlake Village, CA 91361
102 S. Catalina St., Ventura, CA 93001
Emily was born and raised in Southern California. She completed her
undergraduate studies at UC Davis and later received her Master’s in
Occupational Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida. She holds National Board Certification through
the NBCOT and is also a Certified Low Vision Therapist. Emily
started off her career working at the US Department of Veterans
Affairs, treating blind and low vision veterans as old as one
hundred two. Emily later transitioned to working in the school
setting, providing occupational therapy to students with special
needs ranging from three years old and up.
Emily fell into myofunctional therapy after being a patient herself,
treated by the esteemed Joy Moeller. She is fortunate to have
experienced therapy firsthand from one of the top therapists in the
field. Emily is forever grateful for the guidance and support Joy
has given her. With Joy’s encouragement, along with a newfound
passion for myo after experiencing how life changing it can be,
Emily went on to become a Certified Orofacial Myofunctional
Therapist through the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy.
She continued her education through classes and being personally
trained by renowned myofunctional therapist and pioneer in the
field, Barbara J. Greene. Emily has since become Barbara’s
associate, delivering services using her signature methods and
protocols. Emily currently works alongside Barbara in her in Ventura
office. She also runs her own practice in Westlake Village.
Emily has found happiness in being able to work with patients across
the lifespan and seeing transformative results regardless of age.
How long does a myofunctional therapy program take?
A traditional program takes place over a twelve month period, although
treatment length may vary. There are three phases to therapy: the
intensive phase, the habituation phase and the maintenance phase.
Initially, visits are held weekly but move to monthly intervals as
therapy progresses. For success in this therapy, consistent exercise
every day is necessary until the patient has corrected their improper
muscle pattern. It also requires commitment by the patient, family, and
time. It is possible that your myofunctional therapy journey will
include referrals to other professionals such as dentists, doctors,
orthodontists, ENTs, sleep specialists, and osteopaths. These factors
may change the length of your program, however, a holistic approach is
essential for successful treatment. Often, one of these professionals
will refer you for myofunctional therapy. If a thumb or finger sucking
habit is present, it must be addressed and eliminated before treatment
can commence. A habit elimination program can vary but might take up to
thirty days.
What does myofunctional therapy treatment look like?
You will be given a therapy kit at the beginning of your program. Each
visit you will receive a list of exercises to perform, some of which
might include items from your kit, though many do not require extra
materials. You are expected to complete exercises two times a day, with
three times a day being encouraged. Orofacial myofunctional therapy is
painless and the exercises are relatively simple.
Should myofunctional therapy occur before or after orthodontic
treatment?
Orthodontic and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy are closely related,
with each directly impacting the other. Each case must be analyzed and
discussed by the professionals involved. Treatment might be indicated
before, during, or after orthodontics. Specialists in Orofacial
Myofunctional Therapy promote muscle and orofacial function balance,
improving tongue posture and thus aiding in maintaining orthodontic
stability, helping to diminish orthodontic relapse after braces are
removed.
What ages do you treat?
Myofunctional therapy is suitable for everyone from age four upwards,
but treatment around the age of seven or eight is ideal as oral habits
are less ingrained and easier to change, which can encourage normal
dental growth. Motivation and commitment are key to success.
Do you take insurance?
To prevent insurers from denying, delaying or dictating the course of
your program, OMT Health does not accept insurance. Upon request, a
superbill will be provided for you to submit to your insurance company.
You are more likely to be successful with your claim if you have a
letter of medical necessity from a doctor. If needed, OMT Health will
gladly collaborate with your provider to best articulate the
justification for myofunctional therapy.
Do you offer telehealth?
Yes. You have the option of being treated in person or via video
conferencing. You can also opt for a combination of both if preferred.
What research is available?
Myofunctional Therapy is a relatively new field that is gaining
recognition in the medical community. Research studies support the
effectiveness of this discipline. Listed below are links to studies
which show the significant impact of myofunctional therapy treatment.
You can find more information below:
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT), more commonly referred to as
myofunctional therapy, is related to the study, research, prevention,
evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of functional and structural
alterations in the region of the mouth (oro), face (facial), and regions of
the neck (oropharyngeal area). The purpose of therapy is to assist the
normalization of the developing, or developed, craniofacial structures and
function through neurological re-education exercises.
OMT treats Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs), which are disorders of
the muscles and functions of the face and mouth. An OMD is a pathological
condition created by disruption in the functions of the stomatognathic
system, primarily functions related to chewing, breathing, and swallowing.
OMDs may affect, directly and/or indirectly: sleep apnea, facial skeletal
growth and development, breathing, chewing, swallowing, speech, occlusion,
posture, temporomandibular joint movement, oral hygiene, stability of
orthodontic treatment, facial esthetics, restricted facial and lingual
frenum, forward head posture, incorrect oral habits and more.
There are 32 identified Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders. Click on each
condition to learn more about the disorder, how myofunctional therapy helps,
as well as pictures of what can happen if left untreated.