11416 Slater Avenue Northeast, Ste 100A, Kirkland, Washington 98033, United States
Angela Zappone 206-498-7763
Hello! Please call 206-498-7763 to schedule
Comprehensive Care with Compassion
Dental Hygienist, Myofuntional Therapist, Certified Craniosacral Therapist, Post-Partum Doula & Certified Lactation Educator. Specializing in orofacial myofunctional therapy, orofacial tension relief, postpartum & lactation support and tongue-ties.
Myofunctional Therapy
What is Myofunctional Therapy? How can it help me?
The Importance of Treating Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs)
The Importance of Treating Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs)
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a highly specialized treatment program involving exercise therapy and neuro-muscular retraining for the lips, tongue, face, throat and jaws (or orofacial complex).
Improper orofacial muscle patterns, strain, and dysfunctions can develop. called Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) These tensions in the fascia and muscles can significantly interfere with normal function, growth and development of the teeth, jaws, face and airway. Orofacial Myofuntional Therapy retrains these dysfunctional patterns to optimize function and restore proper oral resting posture.
One of the primary factors in normal orofacial growth and development is proper tongue resting position. It is critical for the tongue to rest on the palate/roof of the mouth. The tongue acts as support and a guide for jaw growth, helping jaws to expand and grow adequately. The maxilla or upper jaws is actually the base of the sinus cavity. Narrow, small jaws effect more than tooth alignment. Jaw development can directly influence airway structure and development!
The 2 Most Common Factors Influencing Tongue Resting Posture:
- The inability to properly breathe through the nose is one the most common causes of orofacial myofunctional disorders Mouth open breathing posture does not allow for the tongue to correctly rest up on the palate. The tongue stays low on floor of the mouth, so it cannot aid in guiding growth of the upper jaw and airway!
- A tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) that functionally restricts movement and prohibits ideal tongue resting position. The tongue is integral for correct eating, drinking, speaking, and swallow. When the tongue is unable to properly gather food and liquid and suction-swallow, other muscles of the jaw, face, head and neck will compensate, causing muscle tension, strain and pain and orofacial myofunctional disorders.
Other common contributors to OMDs
- Oral Habits such as thumb, digit, shirt sucking, nail biting
- Extended pacifier and tippy cup use
- Eating habits (exclusively soft foods, open mouth or unilateral or "chomping" chewing)
- Genetics influences.
Goals of Myofunctional Therapy:
- Addressing ideal palatal tongue resting posture
- Correct swallow pattern
- Good lip seal
- Proper nasal breathing and Breathing from the diaphragm not with the shoulders!
- Addressing habits that may be contributing to the OMDs.
As a dental hygienist, doula, myofunctional therapist, certified craniosacral therapist and certified lactation educator, Angie has an incredibly integrative and holistic perspective as she identifies and helps release these abnormal muscle strain & bite patterns and designs an highly individual program of myofunctional therapy to tone, coordinate, strengthen, retrain and optimize the muscles of the tongue, cheeks, face, lips, and throat.
Craniosacral Therapist: A significant sign of OMDs and restrictive tongue-tie is a head-forward, muscle strain pattern, with neck, shoulder and TMJ tension. Angie is a certified craniosacral therapist and certified nutrition counselor. She has lectured on the role of diet on inflammation and general health. She understands the health of the mouth and the orofacial structures are a part of the entire body as a whole. She also works in collaboration with an amazing group of massage therapist, dentist, orthodontists, ENTs, airway specialist, and body workers It takes a team to address and treat OMDs.
Craniosacral Therapy as an adjunctive therapy to myofunction sessions is often recommended in the airway and myofunctional community. It can greatly help abnormal tension patterns to relax and release in a gentle, non-invasive manner. 3 free Craniosacral visits are gifted in her full myofunctional therapy program.
The Importance of Treating Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs)
The Importance of Treating Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs)
The Importance of Treating Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs)
The Impact of Orofacial myofunctional Disorders
The tongue and all the muscles of the orofacial complex must be working properly together to eat, drink, swallow and breathe correctly. If they are not, bad habits and muscle tensions develop. This can affect function, growth and development, comfort, physical appearance, airway and ideal breathing, .
The adverse effects of OMDs can be wide ranging OMDs may significantly disrupt normal musculoskeletal development of the face, jaws, and airway and because the body's fascia connects tissues from the head to the toes, skeletal muscular tensions can develop and cause issues elsewhere. OMDs may lead to problems with breathing and quality oxygen intake, focus, and concentration, latching and breast feeding, chewing, swallowing, nutrition, digestion, jaw and teeth alignment, TMJ pain and dysfunction, periodontal disease, and facial aesthetics and normal speech.
Not addressing orofacial myofunctional disorders can adversely influence the outcome of orthodontic treatment. The incorrect positioning of the tongue at rest, abnormal muscle tensions and other OMDs are likely a significant contributing factor to dental development, and malocclusion. Diagnosing and addressing these critical contributing factors are important to achieve the best orthodontic outcome possible.
Myofunctional therapy does just that! We thoroughly examine orofacial form and function and address the issues to retrain the unhealthy patterns contributing to the malocclusion.
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders affect more than just the head and neck. There is a solid correlation between OMDs and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in kids and adults, as well as chronic exhaustion, ADD/ADHD, digestive issues, forward head and neck posture, and tensions in the shoulders, head and neck that can potentially affect the entire spine & pelvis.
Sleep issues can cause significant health issues. Underdeveloped jaws and airway can be a cause of sleep apnea. The airway is part of the orofacial structure. If you suspect you or your child has sleep issues, it is important to get them into an airway educated doctor, or dentists or ENT asap to be evaluated. We often let chronic sinus congestion or snoring in children go untreated, but chronic mouth breathing is a significant contributor to sleep issues and orofacial myofunctional disorders, and can influence how the jaw and teeth grow and develop.
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy has been shown in literature to improve oxygen levels in mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It was shown to decrease the "apnea-hypopnea" (measurement of severity of obstructive sleep apnea) by 50% in adults and 62% in children!
Come2Balance Myo Menu
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
Total Therapy Cost Vary Based On the Severity and Complexity Of The Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders and Duration of Treatment. 6-12 month is average, visits recommended. Initially few visits - weekly. But then twice a month.
Initial Orofacial myofunctional Evaluation. A comprehensive 90 min exam
$135.00
Complete myo tx program duration avg 4-10months, time & cost varies
cost varies. depending on client needs & treatment duration
Limited Myo Therapy - Tongue-Tie Release
Limited therapy to prepare for tongue-tie release (Frenectomy)
Average 3-4 Myo sessions before frenectomy & 1-2 after free post-op stretch
$500-$750 total. 10% Discount if prepaid
Myo is critical to train the tongue before release so doesn't block airway!
This website and the information therein is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition or disease, it is for information only. We recommend before pursuing any healthcare therapy or treatment that you seek the advice of your primary licensed health care provider.
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Come2Balance LLC
11416 Slater Avenue Northeast, Kirkland, Washington 98033, United States