Myofunctional therapy - Thousands Oaks, CA

Treating the Root of the
Matter Saves Teeth

little girl puts myofunctional trainer in the mouth

What is Myofunctional Therapy?

Our myofunctional therapist assesses the patient’s facial muscles to see how and where any underperformance is occurring. They develop a personalized plan of exercises to correct the issues by helping the facial muscles function correctly. Bad habits are often the cause of these issues and if untreated can lead to more complex and painful issues with chewing, swallowing, and speech. Breathing, bite, and posture can all be improved with myofunctional therapy and lead to better overall health.

patient going over dental procedure infirmation with staff member

Who Can Benefit?

Myofunctional therapy can be beneficial to both children and adults. Oral myofunctional disorders can affect people of all ages and the earlier the intervention, the better the results. The function and development of facial structures can be affected when the lip, jaw, or tongue is in an abnormal position. Without correction, symptoms can last a lifetime. Causes of underperforming facial muscles can be the result of a variety of factors including a deviated septum, enlarged tonsils, and a misaligned bite.

Young man suffering from insomnia while lying in bed at night

Signs & Symptoms in Adults

  • Open Mouth Breathing
  • Snoring
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Teeth Grinding and Clenching
  • Frequent Headaches
  • TMJ Pain
  • Tongue Thrust
little girl puts myofunctional trainer in the mouth

Signs & Symptoms in Children

  • Speech Concerns
  • Frequent Thumb Sucking or Pacifier Use
  • Food Aversions
  • Large Tonsils
  • Lip and/or Tongue Tie
  • Narrow Vaulted Upper Palate
little patient showing her perfect toothy smile while sitting dentists chair

Benefits of Myofunctional Therapy

We want to replace bad habits with healthy habits. Therapy treatment is personalized based on age, symptoms, and unique needs. Throughout a period of 8-10 months, a patient will typically undergo twelve sessions. With exercises to transform habits, a patient can improve pain levels, sleep-disordered breathing, clenching and grinding, open-mouth breathing, posture, and overall health. They will also have at home tongue and lip strengthening exercises to continue the improvement and maintain positive oral myofunctional habits.

child patient getting prep for myofuntional trainer guard

How Do I Get Started?

We want to help. That’s why we’re here for you when you need us. You can make an appointment and we’ll talk with you about your symptoms and assess any underperforming facial muscles. Once we determine if you can benefit from myofunctional therapy, we will set up an appropriate treatment plan with personalized solutions for your unique needs.