Myo (Myofunctional) Therapy  

The duration of myofunctional therapy and the exercises assigned can vary depending on each patient’s needs, compliance, and progress throughout the program. The therapy is individually tailored to address the specific myofunctional disorders, dysfunction and/or tethered oral tissues found in each patient and their specific therapy goals.

Most patients can progress through their active therapy in 4-6 months. Those patients that do not need as comprehensive of therapy will finish sooner than those that do.

Most patients need 8-12 therapy sessions which are scheduled 1-4 weeks apart depending on which phase of therapy they are currently in.

The speed & success of therapy is dependent on the severity of the myofunctional disorders, patient needs & goals as well as on the patient’s compliance and commitment to the program

Typically, 3-5 exercises will be assigned at each appointment to be completed daily at home two times per day. There may be a combination of passive, active, breathing, and/or postural exercises.

Some exercises may require a tool or adjunct to assist in performing the exercise or provide resistance.

Your therapist will provide you with a kit that you will need to bring along to each appointment.

Myofunctional therapy has no age limit and can be started as early as 4 years old, however, the patient must be motivated and mentally mature enough to be dedicated to the program. For young children parental guidance is important to ensure exercises are being completed correctly and consistently every day.

Not all tongue ties need to be released unless it is causing symptoms and affecting oral function.

Specific exercises targeted to prepare the tongue for a release may be given at your first few sessions. In other cases, patients may begin their myo program and work through 1-4 sessions with a focus on improving function and eliminating myofunctional disorders and decreasing compensations before determining if a release is needed.

A frenuloplasty is a surgical procedure intended to release tethered oral tissues that can interfere with tongue mobility and/or the correct tongue position which contributes to many symptoms as well as functional limitations and muscular compensations. Studies have shown that a functional frenuloplasty is more successful when done in conjunction with myofunctional therapy.

The procedure involves a recovery & healing process.

Your myofunctional therapist will give you a specific set of instructions, exercises and stretches to complete several times per day following your release during the recovery and healing process.

It is a simple and straight-forward outpatient procedure completed in the dental office with local anesthetic. You will be completely numb. First a topical anesthetic gel is applied around the frenum and tissue underneath the tongue and then an injection of local anesthetic, like you would have for a dental filling, is given. The anesthetic ensures that you are comfortable throughout the procedure.

During the procedure an incision is made in the frenulum with a laser so that the Doctor can access the underlying connective tissue and fascia to release the tension and modify the frenum attachment.

A CO2 laser is used which helps with control, precision, reduces bleeding and helps to minimize post operative discomfort.

After the surgery, you may experience some discomfort and swelling, but these symptoms typically subside within a few days.

Initially, you may be advised to follow a soft diet to avoid irritating the surgical site.

It is essential to follow your post op instructions closely to promote proper healing and ensure the best possible outcome.

No, antibiotics are not needed following your release. We do recommend rinsing with salt water or an alcohol-free mouthwash several times per day to keep the site clean.

This varies as every person has a different pain tolerance.

Swelling & discomfort are not unusual for the first few days following the procedure and they will subside with time.

The swelling and discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers, oral gels and ice or cold compress.

Immediately following the procedure, it may be difficult and /or uncomfortable to talk due to the swelling. This will improve gradually as the surgical site heals and the tongue mobility improves and swelling decreases.

Sutures typically dissolve in 5-7 days

For patients under 4yrs old there is no sutures placed. A primary release performed in early childhood is related to tongue and/or lip ties which can impact oral function, feeding (for infants), speech development, oral health, and overall well-being. Often times when the child is older a secondary and more functional release may be necessary.

Everybody is different and their bodies will respond differently. We advise taking the remainder of the day off following your procedure to rest. It is also important that you follow the recommendations given to you to aid in optimum healing and pain management. Most patients can return to work/school after 1 day.

Myofunctional therapy is often used in conjunction with intraoral appliance therapy and/or before, during, or after orthodontic treatment. Myofunctional therapy done before and during orthodontic treatment can help by eliminating any orofacial muscle dysfunction or noxious oral habits that may adversely affect the progress, outcome, and long-term success of treatment. There are some orthodontic appliances, however, that myofunctional therapy cannot be done in conjunction with due to physical limitations.

We prefer to see you in person for your initial assessment and consultation appointment. If you are traveling a distance, we may schedule your first appointment for up to 90 minutes to allow extra time in case we are able to begin therapy the same day. We do have the option and ability to do subsequent therapy sessions virtually.