What is myofunctional therapy?
It is a neuro-muscular re-education.
It is a retraining of correct oral patterns and habits to guide and sustain proper oral function and breathing for life. Exercises targeting the face and throat are prescribed based on individual needs.
Some patients compare it to physical therapy for the mouth. But instead of re-habbing an injury, we are training a habit that may have been present since birth or brought on by environmental factors such as poor diet, allergens, or even from neuron mirroring- picking up habits from other family members with OMD's. (Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders)
Why haven't I heard of this?
Excellent question! It is my mission to spread the message of airway health as it relates to facial development, but I am just one person.
Historically, medical and dental providers have been more focused on the treatment of symptoms and not the root cause. Today, myofunctional therapy is a medically validated and supported treatment by forward thinking, airway savvy providers. I have been practicing myofunctional therapy in Wichita since 2014 as sort of a pioneer in our area, but have seen the research expand immensely and public interest has really taken off in recent years. It is still not considered to be main stream, but I believe eventually it will be. Change and opposing the status quo is just very difficult for most people in our society.
Why don't you take insurance?
Myofunctional therapy is a premium, highly specialized service that many insurance companies do not cover. I realize that paying out of pocket may be a challenge for some people, and I also know that myofunctional therapy is worth the investment and can prevent bigger issues down the road.
I believe that excellent care is of utmost importance and should not be dictated by insurance coverage. Payment plans are available to help make this investment in your health more affordable. In my experience it seems that insurance companies are designed to deny. It is literally a full time job to submit and follow up on claims, chase payments and fight denials. As a solo practitioner, I would prefer to focus my time on patient care instead of dealing with insurance companies. This keeps your costs lower and minimizes stress for everyone involved. (You are able to use your HSA/FSA benefits.) If you have questions about fees and insurance, contact our office at (316)689-4229.
What age is best for treatment?
Usually I don't start treatment on children under age 4 due to the necessity for cooperation for optimal results.
I find that age 6-12 seems to be my sweet spot for achieving excellent results. I have successfully treated patients from age 2 to 68. It's never too late! Deciding if it's too early is balanced between intervening as soon as we see an issue with the ability to have good compliance. Developmental factors and health conditions will need to be considered to find the optimal time for each patient.
How does it work?
Carefully designed programs will create new neural pathways as my patients learn proper function.
We often see that one problem such as a tongue tie or struggling with allergies starts the domino effect through the rest of the body in a negative manner. By addressing the root cause, removing the barriers to success and retraining new habits, our body is able to heal itself naturally.
We always thought in the past that everything was left up to our genes. Now we have delved into the science of epi-genetics or how our environments can turn genes on or off like a light switch.
It is really beautiful to see that mother nature got it right. When we stop doing something that is not serving our body, then it is able to grow and thrive to our full genetic potential.
How do I know if I would benefit from myofunctional therapy?
The only way to know for certain is a one on one consultation to evaluate your specific situation.
Fill out the contact the contact request below if you'd like clarification on anything you've seen here. You can also schedule one free consultation with me if you'd like to know more.
