Dentosophie - Myofunctional Therapy

Myofunctional therapy is a specialised treatment method in dentistry that focuses on correcting functional disorders of the oral and facial muscles. This therapy can help with a variety of problems, including:

Myofunctional therapy can be used for both children and adults, and plays an important role in holistic dental care. It offers a non-invasive way to achieve long-term improvements in oral and facial muscle function, promoting overall oral health.

Myofunctional disorders, also known as oral dysfunctions, affect the function and coordination of the oral and facial muscles. These disorders can cause a variety of problems and affect overall health and well-being. The most common myofunctional disorders include:

The causes of myofunctional disorders are varied and can be genetic or exacerbated by unfavourable habits such as thumb sucking, prolonged use of dummies or bottles, as well as allergies and chronic nasal breathing problems.

Advantages of the treatment
By treating myofunctional disorders, many long-term problems can be avoided, including misaligned teeth, TMJ pain, speech disorders and even sleep problems such as snoring or sleep apnoea. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to achieve the best results.

A shortened frenulum of the tongue, also known medically as ankyloglossia, is a congenital abnormality in which the thin band of tissue (frenulum) that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth is shorter than normal. This condition can cause various problems that can affect both children and adults.

Possible effects of a shortened frenulum:

1. Breastfeeding problems in infants: A shortened frenulum of the tongue can make it difficult for infants to suckle effectively at the breast, which can lead to inadequate feeding, weight gain problems and it can also be painful for the mother.
2. Speech disorders: Children with a shortened tongue frenulum may have difficulty pronouncing certain sounds clearly, which can lead to speech delays and articulation problems.
3. Swallowing disorders: A shortened frenulum of the tongue can affect the mobility of the tongue and therefore interfere with the swallowing process, which can make eating and drinking difficult.
4. Dental and jaw problems: In the long term, a shortened tongue frenulum can affect tooth development and jaw position, which can lead to malocclusion and other orthodontic problems.
5. Oral hygiene: Restricted tongue mobility can affect the ability to remove food particles and plaque from the teeth, which can lead to an increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Diagnosis and treatment
The diagnosis of a shortened frenulum of the tongue is made by a clinical examination, during which the doctor assesses the mobility of the tongue and the extent of the restriction. In many cases, ankyloglossia is recognised in newborns, but can also be diagnosed later in childhood or in adults.

Treatment options:

1. Frenotomy: This is a simple, quick procedure in which the frenulum of the tongue is cut with a small incision to improve the mobility of the tongue. The procedure can often be performed without anaesthesia or with only a local anaesthetic.
2. Frenuloplasty: In more severe cases or if additional tissue needs to be removed, a frenuloplasty may be necessary. This is a somewhat more extensive surgical procedure that is performed under general anaesthetic.
3. Therapy: Speech therapy or myofunctional therapy can be helpful to improve tongue function and treat speech and swallowing disorders.

Advantages of treatment
Early treatment of a shortened lingual frenulum can prevent many problems and significantly improve quality of life. Treatment can solve breastfeeding problems, improve speech skills, correct swallowing disorders and prevent long-term dental problems.
If you or your child have signs of a shortened tongue frenulum, talk to your dentist, paediatrician or orthodontist about the possible diagnosis and treatment options.

Mouth breathing is a common problem that involves breathing through the mouth instead of the nose. This habit can have a number of negative effects on the health of both children and adults.

Negative effects of mouth breathing:

1. Dental and jaw problems: Mouth breathing can interfere with the normal development of teeth and jaws. In children, it can lead to malocclusions such as an open bite or a narrow upper jaw. Long-term mouth breathing can also have a negative effect on the position of teeth in adults.
2. Allergies and ENT infections: Breathing through the mouth can impair nasal function and bypass the filtering effect of the nose. As a result, more pollutants and allergens enter the airways, which can lead to increased allergies and more frequent upper respiratory tract infections (ENT infections).
3. Difficulty concentrating: Insufficient oxygen supply due to mouth breathing can lead to tiredness and difficulty concentrating. This is particularly problematic in school-age children as it can affect their learning ability and academic performance.
4. Sleep problems: Mouth breathing can lead to sleep disorders such as snoring and sleep apnoea. These sleep problems can in turn contribute to daytime sleepiness and a reduced quality of life.
5. Dry mouth and dental problems: Constantly breathing through the mouth can dry out the mouth, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Saliva, which normally protects the teeth and supports oral hygiene, cannot fully develop its effect.
6. Facial and jaw development: In children, mouth breathing can affect the normal development of the face and jaw. This can lead to an elongated face, narrow jaw and other aesthetic and functional problems.

Causes of mouth breathing
The causes of mouth breathing can be varied and include, but are not limited to

Mouth breathing can lead to significant health problems in both children and adults. Early diagnosis and treatment can help to minimise the negative effects and improve overall health and quality of life.

The visceral swallowing pattern, also known as infantile swallowing, is a swallowing pattern that is normal in infants and young children. It involves pushing the tongue forwards against or between the teeth to swallow food or liquid. This is a natural behaviour in the first few months of life and supports sucking on the breast or bottle.

When should the swallowing pattern change?
At around four to six years of age, the swallowing pattern should change from a visceral to a mature, somatic swallowing pattern. In a mature swallowing pattern, the tongue moves upwards towards the palate when swallowing and no longer against or between the teeth. This change is important for the normal development of teeth, jaws and general oral function.

Negative effects of a persistent visceral swallowing pattern:
If the visceral swallowing pattern persists beyond infancy, it can lead to a number of negative effects:

1. Misaligned teeth: A persistent visceral swallowing pattern can put pressure on the front teeth, which can lead to malocclusions such as an open bite or protrusion (protruding) of the front teeth.
2. Jaw problems: Abnormal pressure on the teeth and jaw can prevent the jaw from developing properly, which can lead to problems such as a narrow upper jaw or an overbite.
3. Speech disorders: Children with a visceral swallowing pattern may have difficulty articulating certain sounds correctly, which can lead to speech delays and articulation problems.
4. Swallowing disorders: An uncoordinated swallowing pattern can increase the risk of food or liquid entering the airway, which can lead to swallowing problems and an increased risk of aspiration.
5. Facial and jaw development: In the long term, a visceral swallowing pattern can affect the normal development of the face and jaw, which can lead to aesthetic and functional problems.

A persistent visceral swallowing pattern can lead to a variety of problems, including misaligned teeth, jaw problems and speech disorders. Early diagnosis and targeted treatment can help to minimise these negative effects and support the normal development of oral and facial functions.

Tongue clenching is a condition in which the tongue continuously presses against the teeth or palate instead of being in a relaxed position in the mouth. This behaviour can occur both during the day and at night and is often performed unconsciously. Tongue clenching can take various forms, including pushing the tongue against the front teeth (anterior tongue clenching) or against the side teeth (lateral tongue clenching).

Negative effects of tongue clenching:

1. Misaligned teeth: The constant pressure of the tongue against the teeth can lead to misaligned teeth. This can manifest itself in the form of an open bite (where the upper and lower front teeth do not meet) or a protrusion of the front teeth.
2. Jaw problems: Tongue clenching can interfere with normal jaw development, resulting in a narrow upper jaw, crossbite or other orthodontic problems.
3. Tooth damage: The persistent pressure can damage the teeth. This can lead to wear and tear, loosening of the teeth or even tooth loss.
4. Speech disorders: Tongue clenching can affect the proper position of the tongue during speech, which can lead to articulation problems and speech delays. Sounds such as “s”, “z”, “t”, “d” and “n” can be particularly affected.
5. Swallowing disorders: An uncoordinated swallowing pattern due to tongue clenching can increase the risk of food or liquid entering the airway, leading to swallowing problems.
6. Facial and jaw development: Long-term tongue clenching can affect the normal development of the face and jaw, which can lead to aesthetic and functional problems. This can also change the facial structure and profile.

With myofunctional therapy, tongue clenching can be gently treated and the tongue can be trained into a physiological position.

The tongue resting position refers to the position of the tongue when the mouth is at rest, i.e. neither speaking nor swallowing. A correct tongue resting position means that the tongue lies loosely in the mouth, the tip of the tongue rests gently against the palate directly behind the upper front teeth and the lips are closed. Incorrect tongue resting positions occur when the tongue is not in this natural position and instead presses against the teeth, lies on the floor of the mouth or is positioned unfavourably in some other way. If the tongue lies slack in the floor of the mouth, this affects the development of the palate. The palate then often takes on a gothic, tapered shape, which makes it even more difficult for the tongue to settle into.

How does an incorrect tongue rest position affect posture?

1. Neck and shoulder tension: An incorrect tongue resting position or a tongue tie that is too short can lead to an unnatural head posture in which the head is tilted forwards. This posture puts strain on the neck and shoulder muscles and can lead to chronic tension and pain.
2. Impairment of the spine: An unnatural head position can affect the entire spine, especially the cervical spine. In the long term, this can lead to poor posture and problems in the lower back.
3. Imbalance in muscle tone: The tongue is connected to the entire body via muscles and fascia. An incorrect tongue position can lead to an imbalance in muscle tone, which affects posture as a whole.

Connection of the tongue to the body’s supporting apparatus:
The tongue is not isolated, but is connected to the entire body through a complex network of muscles and fascia. Here are some important connections:

1. Tongue and neck muscles: the tongue muscles are directly connected to the neck muscles. An incorrect tongue position can change the muscle tension in the neck area and thus influence the posture of the head and neck.
2. Fascia network: Fasciae are connective tissue structures that envelop and connect muscles, organs and other tissues in the body. The fasciae of the tongue are part of this network and can transmit tension throughout the body. An unfavourable tongue resting position can therefore have far-reaching effects on posture.
3. Connection to the skull and jaw: The tongue is connected to the skull and jaw via muscles such as the mylohyoid and digastric muscles. Tension in the tongue muscles can affect the jaw and temporomandibular joints, which in turn has an effect on head and body posture.

The balancer is a special device used in Dentosophie to harmonise the function and position of the tongue, breathing and general oral musculature. It is a removable dental appliance made of a biocompatible material that is customised to the patient’s mouth.

Functions of the balancer:

1. Harmonisation of the tongue position: the balancer helps to bring the tongue into a natural resting position by gently guiding it towards the palate. This promotes a correct tongue position, which is crucial for correct tooth and jaw development.
2. Promoting nasal breathing: By correctly positioning the tongue and opening the airways, the balancer supports nasal breathing. This is important to prevent mouth breathing, which can lead to a variety of health problems.
3. Strengthening the mouth and facial muscles: The balancer trains the muscles in the mouth and facial area by supporting the natural movements when speaking and swallowing. This helps to strengthen and coordinate the muscles.
4. Correction of swallowing patterns: By promoting a functional swallowing pattern, the balancer helps to normalise tongue movements and correct unfavourable habits such as tongue clenching.

Advantages of the balancer:

1. Non-invasive: the balancer provides a gentle and non-invasive method of promoting healthy oral function.
2. Holistic approach: By promoting a natural tongue position, healthy breathing and harmonious muscle movements, the Balancer contributes to a holistic improvement in oral health.
3. Long-term results: Wearing the balancer regularly and following the recommended exercises can result in long-term improvements in tooth and jaw alignment and overall oral function.

Conclusion:
The Balancer is a key tool in Dentosophie that helps to restore the natural balance of the tongue, breathing and mouth muscles. By gently supporting the natural functions of the mouth, the balancer helps to correct dental and jaw problems and promote general oral health.

Oral restrictions, such as shortened lingual ligaments (ankyloglossia), are congenital or acquired tissue changes in the mouth that restrict the freedom of movement of the tongue or lips. With the help of the laser, the restrictions can be gently and carefully removed.

A shortened lingual frenulum is a condition in which the thin band of tissue under the tongue (frenulum) is shorter than normal. This restriction can cause various problems, such as difficulty breastfeeding, speaking and swallowing.

Why is treatment important?
Timely treatment of oral restrictions is important to prevent a variety of problems, including

Laser treatment: a gentle and careful method
Modern dentistry offers an innovative and gentle method for treating oral restrictions – laser treatment. The use of lasers in dentistry has many advantages over traditional surgical methods.

Advantages of laser treatment:

1. Precision and control: lasers allow for extremely precise and controlled separation of tissue, minimising the risk of damage to surrounding structures.
2. Less pain and discomfort: Most patients find laser treatment less painful than traditional surgical procedures. The laser seals the nerve endings, resulting in less post-operative pain.
3. Minimal bleeding: The laser coagulates the tissue during cutting, minimising bleeding. This results in a cleaner and drier surgical site.
4. Faster healing: Laser treatment promotes faster healing and reduces the risk of infection. The laser sterilises the treated area, which shortens the healing time.
5. Reduced risk of infection: The antiseptic effect of the laser significantly reduces the risk of post-operative infections.

Laser treatment offers a gentle and effective solution for the separation of oral restrictions such as shortened lingual bands. With minimal pain, fast healing and reduced risks, laser therapy is an advanced alternative to traditional surgical methods. If you or your child is suffering from oral restriction, talk to your dentist about the possibility of laser treatment to improve your quality of life.

The labial frenulum, medically known as the frenulum labii, is a small band of tissue that connects the inside of the lip to the gums. Both the upper and lower lip have a frenulum. In some people, this tissue can be too short or too tight, which can lead to various problems.

Why is treatment necessary?
A tight or shortened frenulum can cause a variety of problems:

The frenulum can also be cut gently and carefully using a laser.

For many people, the term dentosophie is new and unfamiliar. In this section, we would like to answer frequently asked questions on this exciting topic and give you a better insight.

The additional information is intended to provide you with a better overview of the topic.