SERVICES

Do you take insurance?

We are a fee for service provider and we do no bill medical or dental insurance. However, we accept cash, check, and all major credit card payments. HSA and FSA plans are accepted (coverage may differ per individual plan). Payment is required at the time of services rendered.

What is a tongue tie or an oral restriction?

A tongue tie (also known as ankyloglossia) is a condition where the band of tissue (frenulum) under the tongue is shorter, tighter, or thicker than normal, restricting the tongue's movement. This can affect a person’s ability to move their tongue freely, potentially leading to difficulty with breastfeeding (in infants), speech, eating, and oral hygiene.

An oral restriction is a broader term that may refer to any restriction in the mouth that limits movement, such as a tongue tie, lip tie (when the upper lip is tightly attached to the gums restricting function), or other issues related to the frenulum, which can affect feeding, speech, and oral development. In both cases, these conditions can sometimes be corrected through simple procedures like a frenotomy or frenuloplasty with a functional release provider. 

What is a tongue thrust?

A tongue thrust is an abnormal swallowing pattern where the tongue pushes forward against the teeth or out of the mouth, instead of resting on the roof of the mouth behind the teeth during functional movements. This can lead to dental issues like an open bite, speech misarticulation, and jaw discomfort. It is often seen caused by habits such as mouth breathing, thumb sucking, or oral restrictions.  

Why is mouth breathing bad for my health?

Mouth breathing can negatively affect your health by passing the natural filtering, humidifying, and warming functions of the nose. This can lead to a variety of issues, including: 

Dry mouth: Increasing the risk of cavities, gum inflammation and disease, and bad breath. 
Reduced oxygen intake: Less efficient breathing and oxygen exchange.
Dental problems: Can contribute to misaligned teeth, jaw discomfort, and narrow jaws. 
Sleep distrubances: Increases the likelihood of sleep disordered breathing, such as, snoring and sleep apnea.
Poor posture: Often linked to poor body posture and misalignment.
Increased stress: Can activate the body's "fight or flight" response, raising stress levels.

Nasal breathing is more effective for overall respiratory health and promotes relaxation.

Are your therapies just for kids?

Myofunctional therapy is not just for kids! It addresses a wide range of issues that can affect adults as well, such as tongue tie, mouth breathing, snoring, sleep apnea, and dental problems. It helps improve muscle function, posture, and breathing patterns, which can lead to better overall health, enhanced facial aesthetics, and relief from issues like jaw pain or poor sleep. Adults can benefit from myofunctional therapy to correct long-standing habits and support recovery from orthodontic treatment or surgery.

What are the goals of Myofunctional Therapy?

Every patient has their own individual set of goals and we customize treatment to successfully reach those. Overall, myofunctional therapy aims to:

Establish nasal breathing as primary funciton
Promote lip seal and normalize teeth freeway space
Promote a proper, palatal tongue rest position
Promote an optimal swallowing pattern
Correct excessive dysfunctional habits

How does massage and bodywork benefit before a tongue tie release?

Bodywork before a tongue tie release is beneficial because it helps relax and release tension in the muscles around the mouth, jaw, and neck, which may have become tight due to compensations from the restricted tongue movement. This preparation can improve flexibility, enhance circulation, reduce stress, and promote better outcomes by making the tissues more receptive to healing and post-release therapy

What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a type of therapeutic treatment that focuses on improving the function and coordination of the muscles in the face, mouth, and jaw. It involves exercises and techniques to help correct improper patterns of muscle use, which can contribute to a variety of issues like tongue thrusting, mouth breathing, poor posture, and misalignment of teeth and jaws. (AOMT)

OMT is typically used to address problems with:
• Swallowing: Correcting abnormal swallowing patterns, such as tongue thrusting, where the tongue pushes against the teeth instead of the roof of the mouth during swallowing.
• Breathing: Encouraging nasal breathing over mouth breathing, which can help improve oral and respiratory health.
• Speech: Helping individuals develop proper tongue placement during speaking to avoid speech disorders like lisps.
• Jaw and facial posture: Teaching proper tongue posture (resting on the roof of the mouth) to promote better jaw alignment and reduce strain on facial muscles.

OMT is conducted by a trained myofunctional therapist. The therapy usually involves a series of customized exercises to retrain the muscles of the face and mouth. It is especially effective for children and adults who have unresolved oral habits or facial muscle imbalances that impact their overall health, dental development, or speech.

Some of the common conditions that may benefit from OMT include:
• Open bite (when the upper and lower teeth do not touch)
• Tongue thrusting
• Mouth breathing
• Speech delays or articulation issues
• Sleep apnea (non central nervous system apnea)

The therapy is non-invasive and is often used in conjunction with other treatments, such as orthodontics, to promote long-term improvements in oral and facial health