Myofunctional Evaluation and Exercises

MYOFUNCTIONAL EVALUATION
NORMAL SWALLOW
Teeth are together
Tongue, especially back of tongue, is in palate, force directed laterally
Closing muscles and pharyngeal muscles contract
- Masseter will bulge from strong contraction
Facial muscles are relaxed
- No contraction of orbicularis oris
- No contraction of mentalis
- No contraction of buccinator
- Negative pressure builds up in oral cavity
ABNORMAL SWALLOW (Visceral or Infantile Pattern)
Teeth are apart

Tongue is between teeth (produces scalloped edges). and away from the palatal alveolar
processes
Masseter barely contracts
Facial muscles contract (facial "grimace")
-lips purse
- mentalis dimples (flgolfball chin")
- buccinator dimple
- positive pressure may build up causing air to be forced forward
NORMAL TONGUE POSTURE
In palate (low broad palate)
Away from anterior teeth
Not between posterior teeth
Tip of tongue can contact posterior palate in wide opening
ABNORMAL TONGUE POSTURE
Out of palate (high narrow palate; possibly asymmetrical)

Between anterior teeth and/or
Between posterior teeth
Tip of tongue drops away from posterior palate in wide opening - possibly restricted due
(1)
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to short lingual frenum
EFFECTS OF ABNORMAL FUNCTION
Anterior dental open bite

Unilateral or bilateral posterior open bite
Anterior spacing (upper and/or lower)
Clockwise growth producing
Openbite skeletal pattern
Class II skeletal pattern
Dental Class III or anterior cross-bite
Division 2 pattern
NORMAL vs ABNORMAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
30% of children between ages 6 and 9 have "abnormal" function.
80% of children who have abnormal function at age 8 grow out of it by age 12 or so.
There is a normal transition from infantile patterns to normal function with the tongue
postured within the oral cavity and a normal swallow.
The tongue growth curve parallels that of the neural tissues in that it grows fairly steadily
and reaches maximum size about the age of eight. So, basically, we have a mature size
tongue in an immature size mouth.
Between the ages of 8 and 12 the oropharynx cavity, or air space, increases as growth
becomes very rapid around puberty. This increase in cavity size is caused by:
* a downward growth of the ramus of the mandible

* an accompanying downward shift of the tongue in the oral cavity
* a general decrease in the size of the lymphoid tissue in the oropharynx which is a
function of normal reduction of tonsils and adenoids
* vertical growih of the bodies of the cervical vertebrae.
(2)
BASIC IN-OFFICE
OROFACIAL MYOFUNCTIONAL EXERCISFS
The purpose of these exercises is to assist the patient in finding

the proper postural position of the tongue, lips and jaw and to
understand proper muscle function for a normal chewing and
swallowing. For patients with a minor dysfunction, these exercises
may assist them toward normal function. This list of exercises is not
designed as a complete program of myofunctional therapy. Further
assistance from a qualified myofunctional therapist will usually be
needed for the patient to completely alleviate the orofacial muscle
dysfunction.
1. Spot Position
Place a tongue depressor or your finger on the gum ridge just
behind the incisal papilla (small bump on the gum ridge behind
the upper teeth). Remove ,and· place the very tip of the tongue on
the same" spot". Replace the tongue depressor and repeat the
procedure. This is the spot where the tip of the tongue is placed
for normal tongue posture and a normal swallow. CAlITION: Do
not allow the tip of the tongue to curl.
2. Pop the Tongue

Suck the tongue up into the roof of the mouth. Make sure that the
tongue is sucked up flat with the tip of the tongue on the spot and
there is a stretch of the lingual frenum. After stretching widely
and holding for a count of five, pop the tongue down. Suck the
tongue up again and follow the same procedure.
3. Open and Close

With the tongue sucked up into the palate, open the mouth.
Keeping the tongue sucked up, close the teeth, leaving the lips
apart. Again open and close. Be sure the tongue remains sucked
up flat.
4. Traps with a Straw

Using a cup of water and a straw, suck small sip of water onto the
top of the tongue and suck the tongue up against the palate.
Make sure the tip of the tongue Is on the spot and the sides of the
tongue are up against the gums and not against the teeth. The
water should be "trapped" between the tongue and the hard
palate. Then open the mouth widely so that there Is a stretch of
the lingual frenum. Hold for a count of five, bite the back teeth
together and swallow, lifting the tongue against the palate and
keeping the lips apart.
S. Drinkin~ Sill by Sip with a Straw

With a straw, take a small sip of water onto the top of the tongue.
Bite the back teeth together and swallow lifting the tongue
against the palate and keeping the lips apart.
6. Drjnkin~ with Two Straws, One Between the Teeth

With the tip of the tongue on the spot, suck the tongue up into the
palate. Place a,straw horizontally behind the upper cuspids and
gently bite the teeth together. (Biting the straw will help the
patient keep the teeth together during the exercise and will lock
the tongue in position above the straw with the tip on the spot,)
Now place a straw between the lips in front of the cuspids. Drink
through the straw keeping the teeth and lips together.
7. Soft FOQg Trap
Place a small amount of food such as yogurt, pudding or
applesauce on top of the tongue. With the tip of the tongue on
the spot, lift the tongue against the palate. Bite the back teeth
together and swallow lifting the back of the tongue.
8. Raisin
Place a raisin on the most posterior molar. Chew the raisin in that
position, not allowing it to come forward. After the raisin has
been sufficiently chewed, gather it onto the top and back of the
tongue, place the tip of the tongue to the spot, bite and swallow
lifting the back of the tongue.
9. TQn~ue Resting PQsture

Holg the Straw Unger the Tongue
With the tip of the tongue on the spot, suck the tongue up into the
palate. Place a straw horizontally behind the upper cuspids and
gently bite the teeth together to hold the straw. Hold the tongue
up in this position for five minutes, gradually increasIng the
amount of time.
10. Lip Resting PQsture

Hold an object between the lips so the lips stay gently together.
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MYOFUNCTIONAL EVALUATION

Teeth are together

Tongue, especially back of tongue, is in palate, force directed laterally

Closing muscles and pharyngeal muscles contract

- Masseter will bulge from strong contraction

Facial muscles are relaxed

- No contraction of orbicularis oris

- Negative pressure builds up in oral cavity

ABNORMAL SWALLOW (Visceral or Infantile Pattern)

Teeth are apart

NORMAL TONGUE POSTURE

In palate (low broad palate)

Away from anterior teeth

Not between posterior teeth

Tip of tongue can contact posterior palate in wide opening

ABNORMAL TONGUE POSTURE

Out of palate (high narrow palate; possibly asymmetrical)

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EFFECTS OF ABNORMAL FUNCTION

Anterior dental open bite

NORMAL vs ABNORMAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

30% of children between ages 6 and 9 have "abnormal" function.

* a downward growth of the ramus of the mandible

OROFACIAL MYOFUNCTIONAL EXERCISFS

The purpose of these exercises is to assist the patient in finding

2. Pop the Tongue

3. Open and Close

4. Traps with a Straw

S. Drinkin~ Sill by Sip with a Straw

6. Drjnkin~ with Two Straws, One Between the Teeth

7. Soft FOQg Trap

Place a small amount of food such as yogurt, pudding or

applesauce on top of the tongue. With the tip of the tongue on

together and swallow lifting the back of the tongue.

9. TQn~ue Resting PQsture

10. Lip Resting PQsture

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