Oral Myofunctional Therapy
What is Oral Myofunctional Therapy?
Oral Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a specialised therapeutic approach designed to address and correct dysfunctional oral habits that can affect jaw development, breathing, behaviour, and overall oral health. Oral Myofunctional Therapy is the foundation of our pre-orthodontic treatment approach.Â
Oral Myofunctional Therapy is a non-invasive, personalised therapy that focuses on retraining the muscles of the mouth, jaw, and face to function optimally. This therapy includes exercises and techniques to:
- Strengthen the muscles responsible for proper swallowing, chewing, and speaking.
- Correct poor tongue posture, which can affect teeth alignment and breathing.
- Encourage healthy oral habits, such as breathing through the nose rather than the mouth.
There are also associated functional issues that may be causative to and/or consequence of having narrowed jaws. These may include:
- Mouth breathing
- Narrowed upper airway
- Narrowed nasal airway
- Snoring
According to growth studies, the natural growth of the bones of the head are:
- 50-60% complete by the age of 4 years old
- 80% complete by the age of 6 years old
- 90% complete by the age of 9 to 11 years old
It is therefore preferable to evaluate and manage jaw development concerns through Orofacial Myofunctional Preorthodontics as early as possible, while a child still has strong potential for natural growth. We recommend having your child assessed by the age of 3 to 4 years old.
Frequently Asked Questions
Snoring and sleep apnoea often occur when the tongue contributes to a narrowing of the
upper airway. A tongue with low muscle tone or a low resting posture is more likely to fall
backward during sleep, partially blocking the airway and leading to snoring or sleep apnoea.
Orofacial myofunctional therapy works by strengthening the tongue and training it to rest
against the roof of the mouth (the palate). It also enhances the tone of the muscles at the
back of the mouth, helping to keep the airway open during sleep. Studies have shown that
this therapy can improve treatment outcomes for snoring and sleep apnoea by 50% to 92%.
Tongue and lip ties typically develop around the 12th week of pregnancy. In older children
and adults, these restrictions may lead to long-term dysfunction in the muscles of the mouth
and face. Simply releasing the oral ties without addressing the underlying muscle habits can
increase the risk of the ties reattaching, as the body is accustomed to functioning with those
restrictions. Orofacial myofunctional therapy helps retrain the muscles both before and after
the release. Therapy is usually recommended for at least 4 weeks before the procedure
(prehabilitation) and continued for at least 4 weeks afterward (rehabilitation) to support
optimal healing and function.
Jaw development is influenced by how well the muscles of the mouth and face function. In
growing individuals, orofacial myofunctional therapy can support proper muscle use, helping
to unlock their natural genetic growth potential. When muscle function improves, jaw
development can follow a more favourable path. If the therapy has a positive effect, it may
guide the jaws to grow in the right direction, potentially reducing the need for more complex
orthodontic treatment later in life.
While in-person visits are strongly preferred we understand that some patients live in
regional areas, interstate, or even overseas. In such cases, some sessions can be
conducted online via video calls. However, not all aspects of therapy can be effectively
carried out virtually, as assessing dysfunctions and tailoring exercises is more challenging
remotely. Online sessions can be limiting, so we highly encourage in-person appointments
whenever possible to achieve the best treatment outcomes.
