OROFACIAL MYOLOGY

Paediatrics

Orofacial Myology & Osteopathy

Orofacial Myology, or Orofacial myofunctional therapy, is a form of assessment and therapy that aims to optimise the muscular function of the mouth, tongue and facial muscles. As a therapy, it works in marvellously as an adjunct to the usual skills and treatment provided by your Osteopath. In Osteopathy, we consider function and how it relates to the structure of the human body as a whole. In Orofacial Myology, the muscular function of the mouth and face is considered more specifically.

Goals of Orofacial Myology

Breathing through the nose, with the mouth closed, lips sealed
Encourage resting tongue posture on the roof of the mouth
Correct chewing and swallowing function
Eliminating oral habits, such as finger or thumb sucking

How is this achieved?

After a thorough case history, screening and assessment, exercises are prescribed to address any weaknesses or dysfunction in the individual, keeping in mind the general goals of orofacial myology.

Patient participation is vital with these exercises- oftentimes they need to be done 2-3x per day! Therefore all effort is made to ensure that they are fun and play-based, especially for children. The aim is to transition these movements from being exercises to becoming automatic motor movement patterns over time.

Traditionally, as babies cannot actively do exercises, different oromotor and suck games may be taught to the parents as homework.

Children and adults may seek an orofacial myology opinion, for varied reasons.

Adults – jaw pain, tension, headache, bruxism (grinding teeth), clenching teeth, dental concerns, or what is known as Sleep Disordered Breathing – that is, snoring, sleep apnoea etc.

Children – for the same reasons as adults, plus speech issues, sleep and behaviour concerns, postural concerns, thumb or finger sucking, excessive saliva or difficulty with saliva control, food texture complaints, tongue tie assessment, plus more.

Frenectomy/Frenotomy – many patients (adult and children) come to our clinic for pre- and post- care for tongue and lip tie releases. In this case the reasoning is similar to when you have to have surgery, for example a knee replacement. Then, you see an Osteopath or other professional to manage rehabilitation and pre-habilitation in order to optimise the outcome of the surgery. You do exercises to strengthen the muscles and increase the function of the joint. Orofacial myology (and osteopathy) do the same for the mouth and tongue in the case of frenectomy/tie release.

What will your Orofacial myologist Osteopath ask and do in a treatment?

During your case history and assessment an orofacial and airway focused Osteopath may ask you questions such as:

Do you snore?
Do you eat with your mouth closed?
Do you need a nap in the afternoons?
Have you needed dental work/palate expansion/dental surgery over the years?
Do you or your child bite their lip or drool excessively?
Does your child wake up tired, are they sweaty and restless sleepers?
Do you or your child grind your teeth?
Did your child have an assisted birth, for example with forceps?
Did your child have any issues feeding as an infant or with the transition to solids?
All of these questions (plus more!) can help to screen the ability of the tongue, mouth, lips and airway to function and may indicate that treatment and exercises could be of benefit.

As well as an osteopathic assessment they will assess how the mouth and tongue move, by asking the patient to do some active movements while watching. Sometimes measurements are taken of how wide the mouth can open and tongue can lift, and often with the consent of the patient and guardian, the muscles in the mouth and tongue may be gently palpated by the practitioner.

Why do Osteopathy and Orofacial Myology work so well together?

Osteopaths can work with all the tissues of the body to create balance, increase function and circulation, decrease discomfort and tension. Practitioners with Orofacial Myology as part of their treatment toolkit can not only assess and treat the fascia and muscles of the face, mouth and tongue with gentle manual therapy but offer the added benefit of exercise prescription for these areas. Both modalities place emphasis on breathing and respiration and hence can work together beautifully to provide a wholistic lens for the patient’s management. Furthermore, Osteopaths with paediatric experience can tie these treatments together for your child as early as possible so as to help create the best environment for growth and development.

Commonly Asked Questions

Do I need a referral to see an Osteopath with Orofacial Myology training?

No, you do not need a referral from a medical practitioner.

However, as allied health practitioners, it is best practice to work as a team to achieve successful outcomes for yourself or your child. Often referrals are made to and received from speech pathologists, dentists, lactation consultants, and Ear Nose Throat Specialist (ENTs).

It is important to screen the ability of the patient to breathe appropriately – if the patient can not breathe adequately due to allergies, enlarged tonsils, adenoids, etc then these factors must be investigated and addressed – this is another reason that the multidisciplinary approach is optimal.

If you feel like Osteopathy and Orofacial Myology could benefit yourself or your family please call the clinic for more information or to book an appointment!