What is Orofacial Myology

Orofacial Myology is study of the oral and facial muscles in relation to their movement patterns in every day life. The muscles of the face, lips, tongue and the jaw should move in a way that supports healthy breathing, eating, speaking and swallowing. When these muscles fail to work in harmony they are known as Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs). OMDs may be recognised as:

mouth breathing
orofacial pain and/or jaw joint pain
difficulty with speech
difficulty with eating and/or swallowing i.e trouble swallowing pills
orthodontic problems i.e crooked or crowded teeth, small narrow palate and jaws
sleep disordered breathing i.e snoring, sleep apnoea, audible breathing

At Airway focused we work with you to restore correct function of the muscles in the mouth and face. We help you to resolve issues related to mouth breathing, teeth grinding, eating, sleep, small jaws and dental development.

Orofacial myofunctional therapy involves non-invasive regular exercises and reminder techniques to retrain and restore correct function.

Orofacial myofunctional therapy is available to all ages.

We provide the support and resources for optimal health outcomes.

We support children and adults.

No referral necessary.

We support NDIS families.

Our programs

0-4 years

Mini Myo Program

Mini Myo Program focuses on nasal breathing and correct oral rest posture

Play based exercises and awareness techniques promote good jaw growth and development, healthy airways and optimal function

Let your tongue do the work!

We provide age appropriate support and encouragement to stop thumb or dummy sucking habits.

All ages

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

A customised non-invasive program focusing on nasal breathing re-training, correct oral rest posture and swallowing patterns

Daily oral and facial exercises are used
to restore correct function, increase strength and movement.

All ages

Pre & Post Frenectomy

A customised non-invasive program before and after tongue or oral tie release procedure

We strengthen the tongue and facial muscles ensuring complete movement and function post procedure

We don't want to risk reattachment

We provide age appropriate support and encouragement.

4/5+ years

Quit Thumb Sucking Program

A customised non-invasive program to help your child quit their sucking habit

Thumb and digit sucking can negativity impact jaw growth and dental development

The sooner, the better to encourage natural jaw growth from tongue stimulation

It can be a difficult habit to stop. We provide age support and encouragement.

Step 1- Orofacial Myofunctional Assessment

An orofacial myofunctional assessment is the first step to understand and measure your current function and strength. We conduct a thorough oral examination using photos, videos, measurements, jaw development, airway health, sleep quality, breathing, oral habits, head and neck posture and much more.

We work with your families goals with a supportive individual plan.

We will take great care to address all of your questions and concerns on the day of your visit.

What to expect:

60-90min appointment in person or via Telehealth
Photos, measurements and documentation of your or your child's current condition and function plus throughout treatment to measure your success
A summary report of my findings
A comprehensive and individualised treatment plan
Helpful strategies and suggestions to implement today
Referrals to other health practitioners if required
Unlimited support

Step 2- Myofunctional Therapy Program

Once we have identified your particular goals, muscle dysfunctions, areas of pain and/or habits, we tailor an individual program to suit.

Everyone is very unique and require different support techniques but the program might look like:

Age appropriate oral and facial non-invasive exercises to support healthy balanced function
Encourage optimal growth of the jaws and airways
Reminder techniques
Nasal breathing re-training
Functional and healthy chewing support
Allergy support
Oral hygiene advice
Nasal hygiene advice
Sleep hygiene advice
Pacifier/ dummy recommendations
Sippy cups and water bottle advice
Pre and post rehabilitation for tongue or lip tie release

Step 3 - Are we achieving our goals

If your program has been successfully implemented, you can observe the following:

Competent lip seal
Habitual nasal breathing
Elimination of dysfunctional oral habits
Established proper tongue resting posture (on the roof of the mouth)
Healthy chewing and swallowing patterns
Quality sleep and refreshed upon waking
Reduction or elimination of snoring
Increased chances of optimal oral environment for proper jaw and facial growth = straighter teeth
Eliminate or simply the need for extensive orthodontic treatment
Improve orthodontic outcomes and stability- reduced need to wear retainers for life
Better concentration and attention at school - better sleep quality

Improving tongue function and rest posture improves sleep quality and quantity. More sleep for everyone!

Breathe

The way you breathe significantly impacts your overall well-being. At Airway focused, our aim is to assist everyone in achieving optimal breathing, through the nose. The nose: the ultimate air cleaner. It is a special filtration system that warms and humidifies the air. Your nose gives you a sense of smell for safety and taste, and helps to shape your face. We accomplish this by evaluating airways, correcting habits and dysfunctions, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals when necessary.

Sleep

So many of us suffer from insufficient, unrestful sleep. Poor sleep negatively affects our health and quality of life, even impacting the entire family. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is a proven method to enhance sleep quality by eliminating mouth breathing, reducing snoring and sleep apnoea.

Grow

Were you aware that your breathing, sleep quality, chewing, and swallowing habits not only influence the growth of your face and jaws but can affect how tall you grow?

At Airway focused, we ensure you're breathing through your nose, swallowing and chewing correctly. When these muscles are used properly, it directly influencing how your face, jaws and airways grow. It needs to work together to promote ideal cranium growth.

Thrive

Quality sleep is a fundamental pillar of overall health. It plays a crucial role in supporting every function in your body. Brain health, gut health, immune function, mood regulation, food choices, growth hormones, skin health, mental health, learning and productivity and so much more.

Our programs

0-4 years Mini Myo Program

All ages Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

A customised non-invasive program focusing on nasal breathing re-training, correct oral rest posture and swallowing patterns Daily oral and facial exercises are used to restore correct function, increase strength and movement.

All ages Pre & Post Frenectomy

A customised non-invasive program before and after tongue or oral tie release procedure We strengthen the tongue and facial muscles ensuring complete movement and function post procedure We don't want to risk reattachment We provide age appropriate support and encouragement.

4/5+ years Quit Thumb Sucking Program