CONTINUINGeducation
Why Every Dentist and Orthodontist Should Have an Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist on Their Team Educational Aims This self-instructional course for dentists aims to help the reader understand more about the connection and the value of having an orofacial myofunctional therapist on the treatment team for most patients of nearly all ages. Oral-systemic connections are becoming common knowledge in Dentistry. The links are rapidly expanding beyond nutrition, medications, and microbiome to include movement and body work, including physical therapy and orofacial myology. There is a long history of therapy that is only now gaining widespread recognition as a key element in wholebody wellness, including oral health.
by Nicole Goldfarb, M.A., CCC-SLP, COM®
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s knowledge about the etiology of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has expanded over the recent years, it is imperative to recognize that a team approach to intervention is paramount to Expected Outcomes the success of any treatment plan. In acDental Sleep Practice subscribers can answer the CE questions online at https://dentalsleeppractice.com/continuing-education/ cordance with this multidisciplinary apto earn 2 hours of CE from reading the article. Correctly answerproach, an orofacial myofunctional thering the questions will demonstrate the reader can: apist may be a key player on your dental 1. Define the role orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) can team. Working directly with an orofacial play in their practice and lead their team to present this to patients. myofunctional therapist may be one of the 2. Discuss how OMT can be helpful at many age levels of most effective ways to comprehensively patients for specific indications. treat your dental sleep patients. This arti3. Back up clinical observations with research supporting potential therapies. cle will explore the relationship between orofacial myology and dentistry and how these specialties can work together to better benefit patients of nearly any age. The team of the dental specialist and the orofacial myofunctional therapist can play a joint role in not only resolving malocclusion, but more importantly identifying red flags for soft tissue dysfunction, airway issues, and SDB.
32 DSP | Fall 2023