What Causes an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder?
All babies are born with a low forward (tongue thrust) swallowing pattern. With normal growth and development, the tongue begins to lift up into and against the palate (roof of the mouth), which is designed to absorb this pressure. Anything that adversely influences normal development of the dental arches or positions of the teeth can result in OMD because the oral and facial muscles must adapt to the oral structures to maintain a functional relationship. The adaptation can then contribute to making the dental and speech problems worse. Often, it is a combination of factors such as:
• Improper oral habits: such as prolonged thumb or finger sucking, cheek/nail biting, tooth clenching/grinding.
• Restricted nasal airway: due to enlarged tonsils/adeniods, allergies, sinusitis or a deviated septum, which promotes habitual open-lip posture.
• Structural or functional abnormalities such as a short linqual frenum (tongue-tie).
• Neurological or developmental abnormalities.
• Hereditary predisposition to some of the above factors.
• Improper oral habits: such as prolonged thumb or finger sucking, cheek/nail biting, tooth clenching/grinding.
• Restricted nasal airway: due to enlarged tonsils/adeniods, allergies, sinusitis or a deviated septum, which promotes habitual open-lip posture.
• Structural or functional abnormalities such as a short linqual frenum (tongue-tie).
• Neurological or developmental abnormalities.
• Hereditary predisposition to some of the above factors.
Habits like thumb, finger, pacifiier sucking can cause a high narrow arch to develop and the teeth to erupt out of alignment and cause malocclusion. Sandra and her therapists help children as young as two (2) and as old as sixty-two (62) to stop sucking thumbs, fingers, pacifiers, bottles, blankets and sippy cups which can cause mild to severe issues with teeth, lips, speech and facial development.
For 40+ years Sandra’s therapy has been successful. 99.7% stop sucking on the first day! Her approach takes only three (3) to five (5) minutes, three (3) times per day.
Families are astounded at how EASY it is. Patients develop enhanced self-esteem with the empowerment that they feel.
Orthodontists, dentists, teachers and counselors refer patients for this positive program and report seeing incredible changes.
Often, just stopping the habit will shorten the time for orthodontics (braces), and improve their speech and articulation which enhances their social skills.
Mouth breathing is a sign of tongue thrusting and low tongue posture. The face can have a dull sluggish appearance & full, weak lips develop.
Crooked/Crowded Teeth can also be caused by habits such as thumb sucking, nail biting and/or improper swallowing.
Poor Posture can be caused by an injury, carrying heavy backpacks, and poor posture during computer use or while playing video games
Tongue Thrust- Our therapy program focuses on proper tongue posture, lip closure, proper head posture and nasal breathing. Therefore, we cooperate with the physician, dentist, orthodontist, otolaryngologist (ENT), and other professionals who might need to be involved to create a successful case. We use a ‘team approach’.Because the tongue’s pressure can help to separate or hold teeth apart, we focus on the vertical dimension, working to retrain the tongue to rest on the palate with a lips closed posture.
Often, if the tongue is too short to accomplish this (tongue tie), we work with other professionals, such as the periodontist, oral surgeon or general dentist who can help to elongate the lingual frenulum.
Nail Biting
TMJD / TMD
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction-
Deviation on opening, limited range of motion, clicking or popping of one or both jaw joints, crepitus (creaking), localized facial pain, generalized facial pain, neck and shoulder pain, ear pain, tinnitus, and obvious and non-obvious asymmetries in the face are some symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction. All of our therapy for this condition is done using muscles. We develop an individualized program, under the direction of the dentist, orthodontist, physician, physical therapist or other treating modality to normalize tongue, jaw and lip rest posture. Our patients do extremely well in this therapy because of our ‘team approach’.
Cross Bite- Open bite and cross bite can be evaluated early. Changes that are non-invasive can be accomplished in a few short months.
Therapists at Sandra Coulson and Associates are trained in the latest, proven therapies which help the patient to achieve the goals of proper muscle function as well as improved speech, chewing and resting. This therapy, with as few as three (3) minutes of exercise, two (2) to three (3) times a day, can create remarkable improvement.
Age does not matter, but it does take a bit longer with adults. We work with the dentist or orthodontist to accomplish the necessary tongue and lip posture to support a changed occlusion.
Contact us for an explanation of the initial assessment and the therapy program. We will answer any questions you might have.
Bell's Palsy
For 40+ years Sandra’s therapy has been successful. 99.7% stop sucking on the first day! Her approach takes only three (3) to five (5) minutes, three (3) times per day.
Families are astounded at how EASY it is. Patients develop enhanced self-esteem with the empowerment that they feel.
Orthodontists, dentists, teachers and counselors refer patients for this positive program and report seeing incredible changes.
Often, just stopping the habit will shorten the time for orthodontics (braces), and improve their speech and articulation which enhances their social skills.
Mouth breathing is a sign of tongue thrusting and low tongue posture. The face can have a dull sluggish appearance & full, weak lips develop.
Crooked/Crowded Teeth can also be caused by habits such as thumb sucking, nail biting and/or improper swallowing.
Poor Posture can be caused by an injury, carrying heavy backpacks, and poor posture during computer use or while playing video games
Tongue Thrust- Our therapy program focuses on proper tongue posture, lip closure, proper head posture and nasal breathing. Therefore, we cooperate with the physician, dentist, orthodontist, otolaryngologist (ENT), and other professionals who might need to be involved to create a successful case. We use a ‘team approach’.Because the tongue’s pressure can help to separate or hold teeth apart, we focus on the vertical dimension, working to retrain the tongue to rest on the palate with a lips closed posture.
Often, if the tongue is too short to accomplish this (tongue tie), we work with other professionals, such as the periodontist, oral surgeon or general dentist who can help to elongate the lingual frenulum.
Nail Biting
TMJD / TMD
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction-
Deviation on opening, limited range of motion, clicking or popping of one or both jaw joints, crepitus (creaking), localized facial pain, generalized facial pain, neck and shoulder pain, ear pain, tinnitus, and obvious and non-obvious asymmetries in the face are some symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction. All of our therapy for this condition is done using muscles. We develop an individualized program, under the direction of the dentist, orthodontist, physician, physical therapist or other treating modality to normalize tongue, jaw and lip rest posture. Our patients do extremely well in this therapy because of our ‘team approach’.
Cross Bite- Open bite and cross bite can be evaluated early. Changes that are non-invasive can be accomplished in a few short months.
Therapists at Sandra Coulson and Associates are trained in the latest, proven therapies which help the patient to achieve the goals of proper muscle function as well as improved speech, chewing and resting. This therapy, with as few as three (3) minutes of exercise, two (2) to three (3) times a day, can create remarkable improvement.
Age does not matter, but it does take a bit longer with adults. We work with the dentist or orthodontist to accomplish the necessary tongue and lip posture to support a changed occlusion.
Contact us for an explanation of the initial assessment and the therapy program. We will answer any questions you might have.
Bell's Palsy
