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Santa Fe Therapy Associates delivers speech-language therapy, orofacial myofunctional therapy, and occupational therapy to all ages of clients. We have been serving the nothern New Mexico community for 5 years. Melissa Wilson, M.Ed., COM, CCC/SLP is the owner and director of this practice.
Melissa received her certification in the practice of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy in May of this year. She is a member of the International Association of Orofacial Myology. The International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM) is a multidisciplinary group of health professionals who benefit from their knowledge and expertise in the areas of speech pathology and the dental fields thus providing specialized therapy in the treatment of orofacial disorders such as habitual open mouth posture, sucking habits (thumb, fingers, pacifiers etc), ineffective chewing and many more.
Orofacial myofunctional disorders include one or a combination of the following:
1.abnormal thumb, finger, lip, and tongue sucking habits
2.an inappropriate mouth-open lips-open resting posture problem
3.a forward interdental rest posture of the tongue problem
4.a forward rest position of the tongue against the maxillary incisors problem
5.a lateral, posterior interdental tongue rest posture problem
6.inappropriate thrusting of the tongue in speaking and/or swallowing.
What are the Consequences of OMDs?
These abnormal habit patterns, functional activities, and postures can open the dental bite beyond the normal rest position. This can result in a disruption of dental development in children and over-eruption of selected teeth in adults.
Over time, dental malocclusion, cosmetic problems, and even changes in jaw growth and position are observed in some patients with OMDs. Examples of changes that can result from a chronic open mouth rest posture include an increased vertical height of the face, a retruded chin, a downward and backward growth of the lower face (rather than downward and forward), and flaccid and hypotonic lips (Proffit, 1986).
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