Myofunctional Therapy and Adult Orthodontics

As dental professionals, we understand how important it is to address orthodontic concerns at any age. However, many of our adult patients may believe that orthodontics is only effective for children and teenagers.

The good news is that there’s a growing realization among patients that it’s never too late to achieve a healthier smile, improved posture, and better overall well-being through orthodontic treatment.

Myofunctional therapy (myo) can play a crucial role in improving orthodontic outcomes for adult patients.

Ironically, many patients and providers believe that myofunctional therapy is only effective for children and teenagers because they’re still growing. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

In this post, we’ll explore how myofunctional therapy can complement adult orthodontics, improve treatment efficiency, and provide lasting benefits for adult patients - helping you offer comprehensive care that addresses both aesthetic and functional needs.

What is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy is a treatment aimed at retraining the facial muscles. If you consider it similar to physical therapy that focuses on the face, tongue, lips, and jaw muscles, then you already understand the concept of myo.

The goal is to address any improper oral habits that may be hindering orthodontic progress and negatively impacting overall oral health.

For adults, myo is particularly valuable in addressing issues such as:

• Mouth breathing
• Tongue thrusting
• Improper swallowing patterns
• Jaw misalignment and TMJ issues
• Sleep Disordered Breathing

Incorporating myofunctional therapy into your treatment plans can support better functional outcomes, optimize orthodontic results, and help maintain these results over the long term, preventing relapse.

How Myofunctional Therapy Complements Adult Orthodontics

While orthodontic treatments focus on aligning teeth, correcting bite issues, and achieving optimal expansion, myofunctional therapy focuses on ensuring the surrounding muscles function optimally, preventing the re-emergence of improper habits that could compromise treatment results.

Here’s how myo can enhance adult orthodontic care:

Correcting Oral Posture
Poor oral posture caused by habitual mouth breathing or an improper tongue position, such as a low resting tongue, can lead to or exacerbate malocclusions.

Myo exercises help retrain the tongue to rest on the roof of the mouth, promote nasal breathing, and ensure that the jaw functions optimally. When combined with orthodontics, myo helps prevent relapse by supporting the newly aligned teeth and jaw in their optimal positions.

Speeding Up Treatment Time
One of the challenges of adult orthodontics is that muscle habits such as tongue thrusting can interfere with the movement of teeth.

These habits can delay treatment progress by effectively resisting the forces applied by the braces or ortho appliance.

Myo helps by retraining the oral muscles to support the teeth's movement, corrects swallowing patterns, eliminates mouth breathing, and improves muscle coordination, potentially reducing treatment time and allowing for more predictable progress.

Reducing Discomfort
Some adult patients experience discomfort during orthodontic treatment, especially in the jaw, neck, and head areas, which underlying muscle imbalances may exacerbate.

Myo can alleviate this by improving muscle tone and coordination, reducing tension in the jaw and neck, and enhancing jaw mobility. This is especially beneficial for patients with pre-existing TMJ issues or facial pain and tension.

Enhancing Long-Term Results
One of the most significant concerns for adults undergoing orthodontic treatment is the long-term stability of their results.

After removing braces, appliances, or clear aligners, myo helps maintain the proper function and alignment of the muscles around the teeth and jaw. By improving oral habits and muscle function, and preventing mouth breathing, myo can prevent relapse and ensure that the teeth stay in their new, corrected positions.

Other Benefits of Myofunctional Therapy for Adults

Myofunctional therapy offers a wide range of additional benefits for adult patients, making it an extremely effective and versatile holistic treatment option that can address several concerns at once.

Improved Breathing
Chronic mouth breathing is common among adults who have allergies, asthma, sinus issues, or other structural concerns. This can lead to various issues, including dry mouth, gum disease, and sleep-disordered breathing. Myo helps patients retrain their muscles to promote nasal breathing, which improves oxygen intake and reduces the risk of complications like snoring or sleep apnea.

Better Posture
The muscles involved in oral posture are linked to the rest of the body. By enhancing tongue posture and jaw alignment, myo can improve overall body posture, alleviating neck, shoulder, and back strain. This is especially advantageous for patients with chronic neck or back conditions.

Reduced TMJ Symptoms
TMJ disorders, which often result in jaw pain, facial tension, headaches, and clicking, are prevalent among adults. Myo exercises can reduce jaw tension, alleviate TMJ pain, and improve the function of the temporomandibular joint, providing your patients with greater comfort and functionality.

Healthier Sleep Patterns
Many adults suffering from sleep apnea or chronic snoring can find relief through myofunctional therapy. By toning and strengthening the muscles of the mouth, throat, and jaw, myo enhances airway function, potentially reducing or eliminating snoring and promoting healthier, more restful sleep.

Myofunctional Therapy and Your Practice

Myofunctional therapy and adult orthodontics are a powerful combination that can enhance your patients’ treatment outcomes.

Myo helps adults achieve lasting improvements in alignment, posture, and overall well-being by addressing both the structural and functional aspects of oral health.

Incorporating myofunctional therapy into your practice allows you to provide a comprehensive treatment plan that not only aligns teeth, but also optimizes muscle function, improves the body's structure, enhances comfort, and ensures long-term stability.

It’s a win-win for your patients and your practice.