Frequently Asked questions

What are Orofacial myofunctional disorders?

These dysfunctions are atypical patterns of the orofacial complex causing dysfunctions in swallowing, chewing, breathing, and sleeping.

· Incorrect resting posture of the tongue

· Open mouth posture

· Thumb sucking

· Tongue thrust swallow

What are the goals of orofacial myofunctional therapy?

· Promote exclusive nasal breathing

· Strengthen and tone the muscles of the tongue, lips and orofacial complex

· Promote ideal oral resting posture

· Habituate optimal chewing, swallowing, habits and body posture

Can Dental Hygienists practice Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) independently?

Both CDHA and ADHA support registered dental hygienists who are trained in OMT, who have also taken proficiency boards to become a Certified Orofacial Myologist (COM®) providing OMT treatment without the supervision of another licensed healthcare professional to patients of all ages. Jessica received her COM®️ in February 2020, making her the ONLY RDH/COM® in San Diego county and only 1 of 7 in all of California!

Is treatment covered by insurance?

Unfortunately this treatment modality is not a covered benefit, We accept cash, Venmo, PayPal, and ApplePay., as well as FSA and HSA cards.

How do Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders affect my dental health?

They can be a contributing factor to dental decay, gingivitis, grinding/clenching, and TMJ disorder.

Is oromyofunctional therapy painful?

OMT is not painful, however is if there is a need for a frenectomy (tongue tie release) there is some discomfort during the post frenectomy stretching phase or TMJ disorder involement there could be some discomfort.

Does orofacial myofunctional therapy involve other professions?

YES! Collaboration is key! Jessica will work with your dentist, orthodontist, speech language pathologist, ENT, osteopath, general medical doctor, craniosacral therapist and chiropractor to get the best, optimal results. It takes a team and myofunctional therapy is just a piece of a larger puzzle.

Does OMT cure sleep apnea or other sleep disorders?

Studies have shown that OMT can reduce the incidence of sleep apnea in children and adults, but it is not a cure.

What ages do you treat OMDs?

Patients of all ages can benefit from OMT. Early intervention is always preferred, so school aged children are ideal OMT candidates. Of course, teens and adults can benefit too. Orthodontic relapse, TMD and sleep disordered breathing are the most common concern for adults.