Before Your Visit
Treatment of ties in adults is a relatively quick and easy process, though it does require a bit more pre-op work to ensure a positive outcome.
Empower
Growth
Myofunctional therapy is a program used to correct the improper function of the tongue and facial muscles. It involves strengthening of the tongue and orofacial muscles by teaching individuals how to engage the muscles to the appropriate position.
Individuals with predominant mouth breathing (or insufficient habitual nasal breathing) often develop maladaptive habits and patterns of orofacial function that may impact various conditions including:
-
Facial skeletal growth (maxillofacial development)
-
Sleep-disordered breathing (including snoring and sleep apnea)
-
Nasal obstruction
-
Oral hygiene and dental problems
-
Teeth grinding (bruxism)
-
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
-
Neck and shoulder tension
-
Speech problems
-
Facial esthetics
Proper diagnosis allows for targeted and effective physical therapy exercises for oral posture retraining to promote better health with goals to improve breathing, reduce pain, and enhance quality of life.
Our office requires that all patients undergoing tongue tie release work with a myofunctional therapist prior to their frenectomy. This ensures proper preparation of the muscles and their surrounding fascia, a complete release of restrictive tissues, and allows for ideal tongue posture and function after the procedures is complete. Patients who are not committed to proper preparation will not see their desired outcomes and are more likely to need repeat treatment in the future.
Work with a Myofunctional Therapist
Get Started with Bodywork
When you have a tongue tie, your body has to compensate for the limited mobility of the tongue by tightening up in other areas. “Bodywork” is a generalized term used to refer to hands-on touch and manual therapy to allow your soft tissues to release tension and reorganize. This involves slow, gentle movements across your body, paying particular attention to the head and neck, the shoulders, trunk, hips, and feet. It helps to relax the fascia throughout the body, allowing for improved chewing, breathing, swallowing, digesting and moving.
Click HERE for a list of bodyworkers that we work with frequently. There are dozens of other highly skilled chiropractors, osteopaths, and craniosacral therapists who can help you prepare for a release.
While working with a myofunctional therapist is a requirement for release, bodywork is not always required. It is always beneficial, so we do strongly encourage having a bodyworker on board both pre- and post-operatively, but there are some cases where it is not necessary.
