What is Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder?

An OMD is a disorder of the Orofacial muscle complex which includes the mouth, tongue, lips and facial musculature.

OMD’s can occur as result of thumb or finger sucking habits, a habitually open mouth posture, or a forward tongue position often referred to as “toungue thrust”

Over time the presence of an OMD can frequently result in dental malocclusion, such as open bite, or cause adverse changes affecting facial development. An OMD can undermine the stability of orthodontic correction, resulting in relapse. It can result in strain on other dentition, causing chewing difficulties, which may affect digestion. Research has shown a high incidence of speech problems in individuals with OMD

What causes OMD?

While it is often difficult to pinpoint a single cause of OMD, it can often result form one or more of the following problems:

  • Improper oral habits including thumb, digit or long-term pacifier sucking

  • Restricted airway due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids; allergies or chronic nasal obstruction

  • Family hereditary

  • Structural or physiological abnormalities such as a short lingual frenum (tongue tie) or abnormally large tongue (macroglossia)

  • Chronic open mouth posture Neurological or developmental abnormalities