As a patient, the complexities of dental services like myofunctional therapy might seem confusing. However, understanding these procedures, particularly when associated with orthodontics, can aid in making informed decisions about your oral health. Today, we delve into the benefits of myofunctional therapy in orthodontics, a significant movement in Miami Designer Smiles’ range of services.
What is Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy addresses orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) that affect the muscles of the face and mouth. These come into play during conventional activities such as breathing, talking, and eating. If left untreated, OMDs can severely influence important factors, such as jaw joint movement, bite alignment, oral hygiene, facial aesthetics, facial and skeletal growth, and stability of orthodontic treatments.
Causes of OMDs
The causes of OMDs can be varied, ranging from habitual thumb sucking to having an oral resting posture with lips apart or having insufficient mouth space for comfortable functioning.
OMDs can develop from a number of factors, including:
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Prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use
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Tongue thrusting
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Mouth breathing
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Improper tongue posture
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Restricted tongue movement (tongue-tie)
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Narrow palates or jaw underdevelopment
These issues often begin in childhood and, if not corrected early, may lead to long-term complications that impact orthodontic treatment success and overall health.
Coupling Myofunctional Therapy with Orthodontics
At Miami Designer Smiles, Dr. Concepcion Sanchez-Garcia and Dr. Raul Garcia often incorporate myofunctional therapy into orthodontic care plans. Why? Because correcting muscle dysfunction before, during, and after orthodontic treatment ensures more stable and lasting results.
Here’s what this powerful combination can do:
- Improved Facial Aesthetics
By guiding facial muscle function and jaw development, myofunctional therapy can help promote natural, symmetrical facial growth—especially in children and teens. It can also reduce the appearance of elongated faces or narrow palates that result from chronic mouth breathing. - Restored Muscle Function
Therapy retrains the tongue and facial muscles to rest and function in proper positions, improving coordination, posture, and endurance. This promotes balanced muscle use and long-term oral health. - Corrected Bite Alignment
When muscles aren’t working properly, they can push teeth out of alignment, even after braces. Myofunctional therapy supports orthodontic stability by reducing relapse risk and supporting a healthy bite. - Better Breathing and Sleep
Many OMDs are tied to breathing dysfunction, especially mouth breathing. By encouraging nasal breathing, myofunctional therapy can reduce snoring, improve oxygen intake, and even lower the risk of sleep apnea.
The Long-Term Value of Myofunctional Therapy
Orthodontics can move teeth—but muscle habits are powerful. Without correcting the underlying dysfunction, results may not last. Myofunctional therapy empowers the muscles to support the beautiful, functional smile achieved through orthodontics, leading to better outcomes and fewer complications down the road.
Ready to Learn More?
At Miami Designer Smiles, we believe in treating the whole person, not just the teeth. That’s why we take a functional, airway-focused approach to orthodontics and muscle development. Whether you or your child is preparing for braces, struggling with breathing issues, or experiencing jaw or facial pain, myofunctional therapy could be the missing piece.
Let’s create a smile that’s not just beautiful, but strong, functional, and built to last.