Cosmetic Dentistry of Napa

Local Dentist Dr. Cecil Lamberton

  • Cosmetic Dentistry of Napa
  • Home
  • Your
    Team
    • Dr. Lamberton
    • Our Team
  • Smile
    Gallery
  • New
    Patients
    • New Patients
    • Our Office
    • Testimonials
    • Latest Tech
  • Cosmetic
    Dentistry
    • Cosmetic Contouring
    • Cosmetic Bonding
    • Porcelain Crowns
    • Porcelain Veneers
    • Teeth Whitening
    • Digital Smile Design
    • Dental Implants
  • General
    Dentistry
    • Dental Implants
    • Crowns and Bridges
    • Periodontal Therapy
    • Laser Dentistry
    • TMJ Disorders
    • Sedation Dentistry
  • Airway
    Dentistry
    • Dentistry for Healthy Sleep
  • Contact
    Us
    • Appointment Request
  • Blog

By Cecil Lamberton

Myofunctional Therapy: Having a Trainer for your Face & Tongue

Myofunctional Therapy includes exercises that are meant to improve the strength of the muscles of the base of the tongue, tonsils, soft palate, and walls of the pharynx

Your oral health is about much more than straight or sparkling teeth. Our office has now begun incorporating orofacial myofunctional therapy and training into our services. In simpler terms, we can act as a personal exercise trainer for your face, tongue, lips and breathing muscles, treating issues such as temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ), obstructive sleep apnea, incorrect swallowing, tongue postures and more with non-invasive techniques.

All of these disorders can cause improper facial development, issues with chewing, swallowing and speech, and eventually lead to dental and orthodontic problems, such as misaligned teeth, gum disease, and tooth grinding. Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDS) such as tongue tie and mouth breathing, are also highly correlated with sleep breathing issues such as snoring and sleep apnea. A program of targeted myofunctional exercises can avert or prevent permanent damage, particularly in the developing child.

In short, a healthy mouth requires facial muscles that perform correctly.

In our office, we can use myofunctional techniques to treat:

Mouth breathing

A dry mouth is a cause of gum disease and, with the reduction of saliva, can lead to cavities. If serious and prolonged, it can cause facial development changes, such as long narrow face and crowded teeth and jaws. Mouth breathing can also lead to issues with sleep, anxiety, increased allergies, and colds, etc.

Tongue thrust

This condition can push teeth out of alignment as well as cause eating, speech, and health issues. Myofunctional exercises are effective in correcting it.

Orthodontic issues

Treating underlying symptoms early can often prevent the need for braces later. The tongue exerts more force than braces, so it can help with orthodontic treatment if the tongue is moving and resting correctly.

Tongue and lip tie

When the tongue is tied down for many years, it often has to compensate by making incorrect movements in the mouth during normal daily activities like speaking and eating. After any surgical correction, we can retrain the muscles to move or rest properly.

Bad oral habits

With therapy, the child can overcome thumb sucking, pacifier dependence, and other habits that cause later jaw and bite alignment problems.

Chewing and swallowing disorders

Therapy can help correct these issues and improve general health, and alleviated facial and jaw pain associated with improper muscle movements during eating and drinking.

Temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ)

Myofunctional therapy can often retrain the jaw muscles and help relieve symptoms of jaw joint dysfunction, including pain.

Sleep disorders and snoring, including sleep apnea

Strengthening the muscles of the jaw, throat and tongue can improve sleep breathing issues associated with snoring and sleep apnea.

Clenching and grinding teeth

These habits can damage teeth and gums; therapy can help correct the habits that underlie this problem.

Myofunctional therapists are an important part of any dental medical airway team. Myofunctional Therapy techniques are often less invasive, and less-costly, way of treating many of the issues that lead to dental and orthodontic abnormalities, particularly when caught early. Even more important, this therapy can improve your general health with easier breathing, less pain, better skeletal development, and even a more attractive appearance.

If you are a candidate for myofunctional therapy, our trained specialist will consult with you to determine whether this program will be of benefit. We think this therapy is an exciting new field that will enhance our patients’ treatment success. Feel free to call our office for an appointment or a consultation.

Filed Under: Dental Health Tagged With: Dry Mouth, Mouth Breathing, Myofunctional Therapy, Sleep Apnea, Teeth Grinding

Google icon Yelp icon Facebook icon Twitter icon YouTube icon Pinterest icon Instagram icon

We are cleared to start seeing patients again

We're taking extra steps to keep you and our staff safe as we reopen for care.

Schedule a Cosmetic Consultation or Dental Exam Today!

Schedule Now

Screening Form

Open Form
Dr. Bale explains steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19

COVID-19: Saline Irrigation to Help Keep You Safe

In an effort to help control the spread of the coronavirus, and keep you, us, and the community safe, our office has been limiting appointments to extreme dental or life threatening dental emergency procedures. This decision is in accordance with the recommendation released by the American Dental Association (ADA) and mandated by the State of […]

Recent Posts

  • We’re Open! What We Are Doing to Keep You and Our Team Safe
  • COVID-19: Saline Irrigation to Help Keep You Safe
  • COVID-19: A Letter from Dr. Lamberton

A smile is worth a thousand words.  I thank Dr. Lamberton for my new smile.

Gale, Napa, CA

View more Testimonials

Partners

American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

 

KOR Teeth Whitening - Deep Bleaching

 

Buteyko Clinic International

     

Testimonials

Such an awesome place and team!  The minute you walk in, the atmosphere is calming and Nichole greets you in such a friendly manner, you feel right at home.  You can even have tea or coffee while you wait.  Professionally Dr. Lamberton is the best in Napa and more.  He exudes knowledge, confidence, and kindness and it is obvious that he truly enjoys his work.  The biggest procedure I had was an implant and it was incredibly flawless.  I don’t even know it is in my mouth anymore.  I always recommend him and his team every chance I can get.

Shannon, Yelp

[READ MORE]

Social

Google Maps icon Yelp icon Facebook icon Twitter icon YouTube icon Pinterest icon Instagram icon

Contact

Phone: 707.257.7771
Located at: 3434 Villa Lane Suite 120, Napa, CA, 94558.
Email: cecil@cosmeticdentistryofnapa.com
  • Dr. Lamberton
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy

Handcrafted with on the Genesis Framework