Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) has found new resurgence as a recent hot topic for assisting with many of the problems facing dental patients today.  Current research reveals the importance of addressing orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) because of its association with total health.  OMT focuses on the neuromuscular re-education of the oral facial complex to normalize and correct chewing and swallowing patterns as well as the tongue, jaw, and lip postures.  This therapy can also be part of the treatment protocol for issues such as sleep disordered breathing, malocclusion, poor cranial facial development, bruxism, and other noxious oral habits to name a few. This lecture will navigate through etiologies, identification of, and disease correlations supported by evidence-based research.

Learn how Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can help you and your patients. Using a non-surgical perspective with this integrative therapy, a team effort is required to address the myriad of cumulative problems presented by our patients with orofaicial myofunctiontal discorders.

Learn to recognize OMDs, etiologies, and associated sleep disordered breathing:

1)  Identify OMDs

2)  Identify etiologies of OMD

3)  Assess frenums and their effects on your patients' function

4)  Learn how OMD affect cranial facial development and the relationship to sleep disordered breathing

5)  Learn the goals and benefits of Orofacial Myofunctional Treatment.

6)  Understand the scope of practice for Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

7)  Where can you find an Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist?

 

Two Hands-on Practical Labs: 

1)  Identify OMD's, cranial facial balance, and possible risks associated with skeletal and dental malocclusions