Oral myofuntional therapy is offered at the Orthodontics Center of NYC, located on the Upper West Side in Manhattan (New York). Our specialists are some of the most recognized oral myofunction therapy leaders in NYC. We have spoken to thousands of practitioners about the benefits of interceptive orthodontic treatment and the benefits of myofunctional therapy. We offer orthodontic oral myofunctional therapy consultations.
- We offer complimentary consultations and 2nd opinions
Dr. Bukholtz is a brilliant and amazing orthodontist who takes great care of her patients. Her easy style and bedside manner put my daughter at ease immediately. She explains everything to the patient and the patient’s family so that everyone understands the course of treatment and what to expect. She is attentive to the needs of her patients and her work is flawless. We are lucky to have her as our doctor. ~ Google
- Myofunctional therapy is used to correct thumb or finger sucking habits, a habitually open mouth posture, a forward tongue position often referred to as ‘tongue thrust”, and awkward swallowing patterns. It can help guide teeth into a more desirable relationship during a child’s early development and significantly enhance appearance and posture.
- An oral myofunctional disorder is a disorder of the orofacial muscle complex which includes the mouth, tongue, lips, and facial musculature.
- Myofunctional therapy works prior to, or in concert with orthodontic treatment, speeding its progress and helping bring maximum results that last a lifetime.
What causes myofunctional disorders? Researchers used to think it was bottle feeding. Now, most therapists feel it is also mouth breathing or oral habits such as thumb-sucking or overuse of a pacifier or Sippy cup. Also, a short frenum (the string that attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth) may be the cause.
My daughter had a great experience with Dr. Bukholts and her entire team. Everyone is very knowledgeable and polite. All questions are always answered. My daughter had an open bite and a muscle spasms. And after 1 year and 3 month of wearing Invisalign (the kids version) my daughter is in love with her new smile. She also has clear pronunciation of several sounds that she didn’t have before. Like ‘sh’ and ‘c’. Thank you Dr.Bukholts and a crew for improving the quality of my daughter’s life through your service! ~ Google
The conscious & unconscious movements of the mouth and facial muscles:
- Negatively affect how you look
- Alter the shape of your mouth
- Can relate to feeding difficulties or aversions
- Impede alignment of your dental bite
- Cause pain or dysfunction of the TMJ
- Develop head and neck posture problems
- Affect developing speech patterns
- Affect sleep patterns
Elimination of an orofacial myofunctional disorder can assist in:
- Assist in developing proper occlusion
- Provide stability of the oral musculature for orthodontic treatment planning and correction
- Stabilize the temporal mandibular joint (eliminate TMJ)
- Develop healthy breathing patterns
- Reduce the effects of certain speech disturbances for /r/ and lisping
- Create a more beautiful face
Swallowing disorders or tongue thrust may be associated with an overwhelming number of problems that can be corrected with myofunctional therapy:
- Crooked teeth or orthodontic relapse
- Headaches
- TMJ (jaw joint) pain
- Forward head posture
- Digestive disorders such as acid reflux or stomach aches from air swallowing
- Sleep and breathing disorders
- Oral lesion from tongue irritation
- Gum disease
- Psychological problems
- Failure to thrive and other child development problems
- Middle ear drainage issues
- Grinding or clenching of the teeth
- Drooling
- Habits, such as nail-biting, thumb-sucking, hair chewing, lip or cheek biting
Specific signs of a tongue thrust include:
- Unwanted oral habits (thumb/finger sucking, lip biting/ licking, teeth clenching and grinding)
- Messy eating
- Tongue visible at the front of the mouth or between the teeth during the swallow
- Tongue rests on the bottom lip
- Tongue more visible at the front of the mouth during speech
- Immature loss of teeth
- Prolonged bottle-feeding or sippy-cup use
- Respiratory difficulties
- Allergies
- Enlarged tonsils and adenoids
- Family heredity
The Orthodontics Center of NYC specializes in taking exceptional care of each orthodontic patient. The honor and privilege of caring for our patients come with the responsibility and dedication from our best in class orthodontists and our staff to adhere to the utmost standards of excellence in orthodontic patient care. As top-rated, best in class orthodontists, we provide highly personalized and comprehensive care. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an orthodontic consultation please feel free to contact our Upper West Side (Manhattan, NY) orthodontic practice for a myofunctional therapy consultation:
Orthodontics Center of NYC
263 West End Ave, Floor 1
New York, NY 10023
(646) 491-7133
