Welcome to Miami Designer Smiles, your trusted dental clinic for all your oral health needs. Today, we are going to discuss a crucial topic that often comes up in our conversations with patients, Myofunctional Therapy. Let’s untangle this complex-sounding term and understand what it means, why it’s essential, and how it can help improve your oral health.
Understanding Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy addresses orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs), which relate to dysfunction in the muscles of the face and mouth that affect normal activities such as breathing, eating, and talking. At Miami Designer Smiles, our experts Dr. Concepcion Sanchez-Garcia and Dr. Raul Garcia frequently work with patients to diagnose and treat these disorders.
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs): An Overview
OMDs can lead to several problems, including speech issues, problems with face structure and skeletal development, bite misalignment, challenges with jaw joint movements, alterations in facial aesthetics, complications with oral hygiene, and stability of orthodontic treatments. These disorders affect a significant part of the population, and it is crucial to identify and treat them early.
Root Causes of OMDs
OMDs can be attributed to habits like thumb-sucking, maintaining an oral resting posture with lips apart, or lack of space in the mouth. The last cause may occur due to developmental issues or dental overcrowding.
Impact of OMDs on Daily Living
These disorders may seem trivial, but they greatly impact the quality of daily living. Chronic pain and discomfort, hindered speech, and poor oral hygiene due to misaligned bites can make simple tasks like eating and talking tiring or traumatic.
Myofunctional Therapy as a Solution
Here’s where myofunctional therapy transforms lives, enabling healthier mouths and happier smiles. At Miami Designer Smiles, our expert team focuses on this therapy as a comprehensive solution to OMDs.
How Does Myofunctional Therapy Work
- First, the therapy involves a thorough assessment and diagnosis of the problem.
- Following this, a bespoke treatment plan is outlined that may include facial and oral exercises alongside changes in your daily habits.
- The ultimate goal is to correct how you breathe, swallow, and rest your tongue in your mouth.
A series of exercises in myofunctional therapy help train the facial muscles to function correctly during daily activities like eating, talking, and breathing. The exercises are simple and can be performed at home after initial guidance from our team.
Benefits of Myofunctional Therapy
The advantages of myofunctional therapy extend beyond the obvious physiological benefits.
Physical Benefits
- Better aligning the bite for improved chewing and eating.
- Relieving chronic facial pain.
- Correcting speaking issues.
Psychological Benefits
- Improved self-esteem due to aesthetic improvements.
- Reduced stress derived from chronic discomfort.
Myofunctional Therapy with Miami Designer Smiles
Opting for myofunctional therapy at Miami Designer Smiles means putting your oral health in hands you can trust. Dr. Concepcion Sanchez-Garcia and Dr. Raul Garcia, with their wealth of experience and knowledge, make sure that you get the best care possible.
Our Process
An appointment with us starts with a comprehensive check-up and discussion about your issues and concerns. After this, a custom treatment plan is designed for you.
Myofunctional therapy with Miami Designer Smiles is a journey, and we assure you of a supportive environment every step of the way.