Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is an interdisciplinary practice which influences directly the muscles of the tongue, lips, cheeks and face and respectively their functions such as breathing, sucking, chewing, swallowing and speaking production. It is aimed at the prevention, diagnosis and therapy of people with malfunctions in the orofacial area.
Its impact is positive in terms of the facial aesthetics.
The therapy gives the possibility for joint work between specialists such as orthodontists, dentists, maxillofacial and plastic surgeons, speech therapists, ergotherapeutists, psychologists and dieticians.
Respectively orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD) are:
- continuous breathing through the mouth
- continuously open mouth
- bilateral pressure of the tongue
- disorders of the speech
- short gland
- short frenulum of the upper and/or lower lip
- malfunction of the feeding
- pathological oral habits (continuous sucking of the thumb, a pacifier, etc.)
- low position of the tongue in the mouth
- sleeping disturbances (snoring, sleep apnea)
- malocclusion and crowding of teeth
- changes in the quantity and quality of saliva
- high and tight stiff palate
- malfunction of facial muscles and paralysis
- inflammation of the tonsils and adenoids
- temporomandibular joint disorders (TMS)
- bruxism (gnashing)
- tinnitus (tinnitus)
- aesthetic facial changes
Myofunctional Orthodontic System MYObrace (MRC)
Myobrace (MRC) is very well developed myofunctional orthodontic system, which combines correction of the habits, extension of the tooth arch and alignment of the teeth in one integrated system. It satisfies the parents’ search for less invasive way to align the teeth without the use of braces, allowing for the kids to develop their genetic potential.
Concentrating on the etiological factors which cause the malocclusions, the system aims at correcting the bad myiofunctional habits, concerning the teeth, the jaws and the facial development, offering the patients more natural orthodontic solution.
There are 3-4 stages of the systems, designated to each group of teeth, typical for the respective age. Splints are effective in teaching the tongue to position correctly in the maxilla, regroup the oral muscles and put little pressure in order to extend the jaws and to align the teeth.