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.
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
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
JAWS
LIPS / CHEEKS
TONGUE FUNCTION & POSTURING
SWALLOWING PATTERNS
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
JAWS
LIPS / CHEEKS
TONGUE FUNCTION & POSTURING
SWALLOWING PATTERNS
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
Sanda Valcu-Pinkerton
RDHAP, Therapy Director, COM®
Anna Gross
CCC-SLP, Oral, Motor, & Feeding
Maryam Norouz
RDH, Myofunctional Therapy
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
Sanda Valcu-Pinkerton
RDHAP, Therapy Director, COM®
Anna Gross
CCC-SLP, Oral, Motor, & Feeding
Maryam Norouz
RDH, Myofunctional Therapy
Lesley Kupiec
RDH, Myofunctional Therapy
215+ GOOGLE REVIEWS
HOW PROVIDERS & PATIENTS ARE IMPACTED BY THE BREATHE INSTITUTE
Justin L
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.
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!
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.
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
Justin L
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.
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!
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.
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.
