Some dental and jaw problems aren’t really about the teeth at all – they’re about habits. The way your tongue rests, how you swallow, whether you breathe through your nose or mouth: these functional patterns shape your bite and jaw over time, often long before anyone connects the dots back to the actual cause.
What Myofunctional Therapy Treats
Myofunctional therapy addresses the strength, coordination, and function of the tongue, lips, and facial muscles – habits like tongue thrust, mouth breathing, or improper swallowing that can throw off your bite over time. Left untreated, these habits can contribute to orthodontic relapse, jaw pain, and even sleep apnea.
How It Connects to Your Other Care
Myofunctional therapy often works alongside other treatment, not in place of it. A tongue thrust might be driving the gaps Invisalign is trying to close, or contributing to the muscle tension behind TMJ symptoms. Sometimes the therapy itself is limited by a restricted tongue tie – releasing it is what lets the muscles actually retrain. Dr. Lee-Mirzayan is certified in this therapy and determines whether it’s the right fit as part of a real exam. Read more about her background →
One patient was referred over just to bond the spaces between her front teeth – but a comprehensive exam found an undiagnosed tongue thrust habit driving the gaps in the first place. Treating the habit meant Invisalign closed her spaces for good, with no bonding needed.
See how we solved J.L.’s case →
Where It Happens
Myofunctional therapy sessions take place in our dedicated Zen Room, alongside buccal massage for patients who need both.
Is This Part of Your Plan?
Whether myofunctional therapy makes sense for you depends on what’s actually driving your symptoms – which is exactly what a real exam is for. Tell us what’s going on and we’ll help you figure out if it’s the right fit.