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Orofacial Myofunctional Therapists


Working With The Muscles Of The Lips, Tongue, Cheeks And Face

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is a highly effective individualized program used to treat incorrect patterns of muscle functions used for swallowing, breathing and chewing to help maintain a healthy orofacial environment. ​​

​​It aims to support proper growth and development of the orofacial complex, stabilize dental and/or orthodontic treatment, help improve the production of speech patterns and sounds, and it can even enhance a person’s appearance.

Our Orofacial Myofunctional Therapists are available online for virtual therapy sessions.

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Orofacial Myofunctional Therapists


Working With The Muscles Of The Lips, Tongue, Cheeks And Face

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is a highly effective individualized program used to treat incorrect patterns of muscle functions used for swallowing, breathing and chewing to help maintain a healthy orofacial environment. ​​

​​It aims to support proper growth and development of the orofacial complex, stabilize dental and/or orthodontic treatment, help improve the production of speech patterns and sounds, and it can even enhance a person’s appearance.

Our Orofacial Myofunctional Therapists are available online for virtual myofunctional therapy sessions.

WHAT ARE OMDs?

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) are "Patterns involving oral and orofacial musculature that interfere with normal growth, development, or function of orofacial structures.  OMDs can be found in children, adolescents, and adults.

OMDs can co-occur with a variety of speech and swallowing disorders.
OMD may reflect the interplay of learned behaviors, physical/structural variables, genetic and environmental factors."

(Maspero, Prevedello, Giannini,
Galbiati, & Farronato, 2014) www.asha.org

CHILDREN & ADULTS WITH OROFACIAL MYOFUNCTIONAL DISORDERS (OMDs) MAY STRUGGLE WITH:


  • Mouth Breathing
  • Snoring & Sleep Apnea
  • Malocclusion
  • Speech Impediments
  • Tongue Thrust
  • Picky / Messy Eating
  • Improper Swallow
  • Poor Posture
  • Oral Habits (digit sucking, pacifier use after certain age, etc.)
  • Drooling
  • Low Tongue Posture

GET IN CONTACT WITH A MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPIST


    GET IN CONTACT WITH A MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPIST


      WHAT ARE OMDs?

      Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) are "Patterns involving oral and orofacial musculature that interfere with normal growth, development, or function of orofacial structures.  OMDs can be found in children, adolescents, and adults.

      OMDs can co-occur with a variety of speech and swallowing disorders.
      OMD may reflect the interplay of learned behaviors, physical/structural variables, genetic and environmental factors."

      (Maspero, Prevedello, Giannini,
      Galbiati, & Farronato, 2014) www.asha.org

      CHILDREN & ADULTS WITH OROFACIAL MYOFUNCTIONAL DISORDERS (OMDs) MAY STRUGGLE WITH:


      • Mouth Breathing
      • Snoring & Sleep Apnea
      • Malocclusion
      • Speech Impediments
      • Tongue Thrust
      • Picky / Messy Eating
      • Improper Swallow
      • Poor Posture
      • Oral Habits (digit sucking, pacifier use after certain age, etc.)
      • Drooling
      • Low Tongue Posture

      WHAT CAUSES OMDs?

      Nasal Airway Interference - enlarged tonsils, adenoids, hypertrophied turbinates, and/or allergies. Anything that obstructs the nasal passages that will lead to mouth breathing.

      Genetic Defects - like tongue ties, cleft palate, craniofacial abnormalities, and syndromes.

      Oral Habits - digit sucker, extended pacifier and bottle use.

      Diet - some research suggests that refined sugars and high processed foods have caused underdevelopment craniosacral structures

      WHAT INFLUENCES OPTIMAL FACIAL & AIRWAY DEVELOPMENT?

      HUMAN ANATOMY | Structures & Their Functions

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      JAWS

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      LIPS / CHEEKS

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      TONGUE FUNCTION & POSTURING

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      SWALLOWING PATTERNS

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      CHEWING PATTERNS

      WHAT CAUSES OMDs?

      Nasal Airway Interference - enlarged tonsils, adenoids, hypertrophied turbinates, and/or allergies. Anything that obstructs the nasal passages that will lead to mouth breathing.

      Genetic Defects - like tongue ties, cleft palate, craniofacial abnormalities, and syndromes.

      Oral Habits - digit sucker, extended pacifier and bottle use.

      Diet - some research suggests that refined sugars and high processed foods have caused underdevelopment craniosacral structures

      WHAT INFLUENCES OPTIMAL FACIAL & AIRWAY DEVELOPMENT?

      HUMAN ANATOMY
      Structures & Their Functions

      Image

      JAWS

      Image

      LIPS / CHEEKS

      Image

      TONGUE FUNCTION & POSTURING

      Image

      SWALLOWING PATTERNS

      Image

      CHEWING PATTERNS

      MEET OUR
      OROFACIAL MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPISTS



      Sanda Valcu-Pinkerton

      COM®, RDHAP
      Myofunctional Therapy Director


      Maryam Norouz

      RDH, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist


      Kathy Soto

      RDH, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist


      Lesley Kupiec

      RDH, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist
      Integrative Breathing Therapy Practitioner


      Anna Gross

      CCC-SLP, Oral, Motor, & Feeding


      Stephanie Estrada

      RDH, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy


      Pareya Dorri

      RDH, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy


      Sandraluz Gonzalez

      RDH/ COM, Buteyko Breath Educator
      Integrative Breathing Therapy Practitioner

      Image

      Sanda Valcu-Pinkerton

      RDHAP, Therapy Director, COM®

      Image

      Anna Gross

      CCC-SLP, Oral, Motor, & Feeding

      Image

      Maryam Norouz

      RDH, Myofunctional Therapy

      Image

      Lesley Kupiec

      RDH, Myofunctional Therapy

      MEET OUR
      OROFACIAL MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPISTS



      Sanda
      Valcu-Pinkerton

      COM®, RDHAP
      Therapy Director


      Maryam Norouz

      RDH, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy


      Kathy Soto

      RDH, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy


      Lesley Kupiec

      RDH, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy


      Anna Gross

      CCC-SLP, Oral, Motor, & Feeding


      Stephanie Estrada

      RDH, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy


      Pareya Dorri

      RDH, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy


      Sandraluz Gonzalez

      RDH/ COM®,
      Buteyko Breath Educator
      Integrative Breathing Therapy Practitioner

      Image

      Sanda Valcu-Pinkerton

      RDHAP, Therapy Director, COM®

      Image

      Anna Gross

      CCC-SLP, Oral, Motor, & Feeding

      Image

      Maryam Norouz

      RDH, Myofunctional Therapy

      Image

      Lesley Kupiec

      RDH, Myofunctional Therapy

      215+ GOOGLE REVIEWS

      HOW PROVIDERS & PATIENTS ARE IMPACTED BY THE BREATHE INSTITUTE

      Write A Google Review
      ImageImage

      Justin L

      Kathy Soto is a superb Myo therapist. She has been so supportive of me from day one of me being newly diagnosed with tongue thrust and having too small of oral space. It's been hard to heal, and she's so encouraging and kind.

      She's incredibly knowledgeable and wise about how to coach me through exercises and explains the rationale of why it's important. I couldn't have transitioned to nasal breathing (so hard!), or to swallowing more effectively without her help. Breathe institute is a highly professional and well run operation. It's worth the out of pocket cost.
      ImageImage

      Brooke Aljilani

      The Breathe Institute is fantastic! As a Speech Pathologist that is trained in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, I have attended training at TBI and can say the team is dynamic, professional, and truly cares about bringing optimal quality of life for their patients.

      As a mom, I can attest that Dr. Zaghi's surgical skill releasing my children's posterior ties was the finest. His team made the whole process seamless from prep for the surgery through follow-up. I highly recommend TBI both for professionals seeking education and for patients seeking care!

      ImageImage

      Orli Lahav

      Our Breathe Institute experience has been wonderful. This was my first time dealing with an out of network doctor and I had many questions, all of which were answered and handled professionally.

      We worked with Anna Gross on my son's myofunctional therapy and she's wonderful. My son had surgery yesterday and Dr. Zaghi was excellent. We're so grateful for this high level of care and are looking forward to our future visits.

      ImageImage

      Moataz B

      Maryam has been helping me with myofunctional therapy and I’ve experienced huge progress. Incredibly thankful for her and the TBI team.

      Such a pleasure to work with them.

      215+ GOOGLE REVIEWS

      HOW PROVIDERS & PATIENTS ARE IMPACTED BY THE BREATHE INSTITUTE

      Write A Google Review
      ImageImage

      Justin L

      Kathy Soto is a superb Myo therapist. She has been so supportive of me from day one of me being newly diagnosed with tongue thrust and having too small of oral space. It's been hard to heal, and she's so encouraging and kind.

      She's incredibly knowledgeable and wise about how to coach me through exercises and explains the rationale of why it's important. I couldn't have transitioned to nasal breathing (so hard!), or to swallowing more effectively without her help. Breathe institute is a highly professional and well run operation. It's worth the out of pocket cost.
      ImageImage

      Brooke Aljilani

      The Breathe Institute is fantastic! As a Speech Pathologist that is trained in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, I have attended training at TBI and can say the team is dynamic, professional, and truly cares about bringing optimal quality of life for their patients.

      As a mom, I can attest that Dr. Zaghi's surgical skill releasing my children's posterior ties was the finest. His team made the whole process seamless from prep for the surgery through follow-up. I highly recommend TBI both for professionals seeking education and for patients seeking care!

      ImageImage

      Orli Lahav

      Our Breathe Institute experience has been wonderful. This was my first time dealing with an out of network doctor and I had many questions, all of which were answered and handled professionally.

      We worked with Anna Gross on my son's myofunctional therapy and she's wonderful. My son had surgery yesterday and Dr. Zaghi was excellent. We're so grateful for this high level of care and are looking forward to our future visits.

      ImageImage

      Moataz B

      Maryam has been helping me with myofunctional therapy and I’ve experienced huge progress. Incredibly thankful for her and the TBI team.

      Such a pleasure to work with them.

      GET IN CONTACT WITH A MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPIST


        GET IN CONTACT WITH A MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPIST