MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY CENTRAL COAST
SPECIALIZES IN:
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy • Retraining Facial Muscles • Pre & Post Frenectomy - Tongue Placement Therapy • Mouth Breathing - Snoring - Sleep Apnea • Habit Elimination
what is
Myofunctional
Therapy?
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a program used to correct the improper function of the tongue and facial muscles. It consists of therapeutic exercises to strengthen and re- educate facial and tongue muscles optimizing their function. It promotes nasal breathing, proper lip closure, a correct tongue resting position and a healthy swallowing pattern.
Dysfunction and imbalance of the orofacial muscles can negatively impact breastfeeding, oral hygiene, facial growth and esthetics, stability of orthodontic treatment, Temporomandibular joint movement, posture, digestion , sleep and more.
OMT is painless and the exercises are fairly simple. When certain muscles of the face are activated and functioning properly, other muscles will follow suit until proper coordination of the tongue and facial muscles is achieved.
Proper assessment of the orofacial muscles allows for targeted and effective exercises for oral posture retraining to promote better health with goals to improve breathing, reduce pain and enhance the quality of life.
ROBIN FAPP OMT
SPECIALIZING IN OROFACIAL MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY
I was born in Southern California and moved to the Central Coast when I was 10 years old. I was raised in a dental family as my dad was a dentist in Atascadero for many years.
I naturally gravitated to the career of dental hygiene and have been practicing for 36 years, enjoying my clinical experiences and taking care of my patients. As of September 2023 I have retired from the field of dental hygiene and now practice myofunctional therapy full time.
I gained knowledge and understanding of orofacial myology through my continuing education and realized my family and I would benefit from Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT).
This led me to advance my education and training in OMT. I am a graduate of Mastering Myo (recognized by the IAOM), Myomentor, Launch Your Inner Myo, Myo Circle 3.0, a Member of Airway Circle, CDHA, IAOM and I'm currently pursuing further education in this field.
I enjoy working with all ages to improve oral function as it relates to breathing, sleep, chewing and swallowing, facial development and growth.
I'm looking forward to meeting you!
HI! I'M ROBIN...
What to Expect During Your Myofunctional Evaluation
With a comprehensive evaluation, we create a personalized therapy plan tailored to your needs.
EXTRA ORAL ASSESSMENT
We begin by evaluating your posture, including forward head rest posture, head, neck, and facial pain. We'll assess your facial structure, open-mouth resting posture, and nasal breathing. Photos and videos will be taken to document and analyze your specific needs.
INTRA ORAL ASSESSMENT
Our detailed intra oral assessment focuses on identifying any restricted oral tissues such as tongue ties, lip ties, and buccal ties. We assess conditions like tongue thrust, clenching/grinding, tonsil size, palatal development, dental crowding, scalloped tongue borders, improper swallowing patterns, and bite issues (e.g., open bite, crossbite). We also evaluate tongue mobility, function, and resting posture. Photos and videos will be captured to support our assessment.
HABITS
We review any habits that may impact orofacial health, including snoring, nail biting, bedwetting, thumb sucking, restless sleeping, mouth breathing, low tongue resting posture, and pacifier use.