Proposal for a myofunctional therapy protocol in case of altered lingual frenulum. A pilot study.

In this article, the authors propose a specific Myofunctional Therapy Protocol for patients with altered lingual frenulum. In such cases tongue muscles are hypofunctioning and their range of motion is reduced. To compensate for this limitation, dysfunctional lingual motor patterns are established, such as the use of some muscles at the expense of others; this negatively affects the development and functions of the stomatognathic system. The Myofunctional Therapy Protocol presented in this pilot study was developed with the aim of making the muscles of the tongue, the floor of the mouth and the soft palate more coordinated, and increasing muscle contraction strength, in order to produce improvements on the muscle tone, on orofacial and nasal functions and a better wound healing and functional recovery in the case of surgical therapy (frenulotomy).

A specific protocol of myo-functional therapy in children with Down syndrome. A pilot study.

In this article the authors propose a specific myofunctional therapy protocol for children with Down syndrome. For these patients, who usually present with atypical swallowing problems, mouth breathing and lip incompetence, the use of a myofunctional therapy protocol with specific exercises has been shown to improve orofacial and nasal functions. In addition to the functional results, such as the correction of the atypical swallowing, restoration of lip competence, breathing improvement and reduction of nasal rhinorrhea, there were also aesthetic results. This protocol can be useful to improve the quality of life of these patients.

Case report of patients treated with an orthodontic and myofunctional protocol.

BACKGROUND: Occlusion alterations can be associated to bad habits (such as thumb sucking, oral breathing, atypical swallowing and labial interposition) which can lead to functional anomalies. CASE REPORT: Three cases are reported with the good results of myofunctional and orthodontic therapy. CONCLUSION: When there are bad habits, orthodontics should be combined with a myofunctional therapy.

Causal relationship between malocclusion and oral muscles dysfunction: a model of approach.

AIM: Bad habits result in altered functions which with time can cause anomalies of the orofacial morphology. To solve these problems, orthodontic treatment can be supported by myofunctional therapy in order to recover the normal functionality of the oral muscles. The aim of this study is to assess the need to treat patients with neuromuscular disorders, from both the occlusion and the muscles condition approach in order to obtain the balance needed for the stability of treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 23 patients with atypical swallowing was included in this study, some of them presented thumb sucking and oral breathing. After case history collection, in order to make a correct orthodontic and functional diagnosis, correction of anomalies was carried out since they could compromise the success of the therapy (maxillary contraction, oral breathing, and short lingual fraenum). Then a different therapeutic approach was applied on the basis of the specific dental features. RESULTS: Both from the diagnostic and therapeutic point of view, important results were achieved especially through muscle analysis with dynamometer and surface electromyography. CONCLUSION: Orthodontic therapy, in the presence of bad habits, is not enough to solve orthodontic issues, it must be combined with a myofunctional treatment. The success of the therapy is granted only when patients and their family comply with the treatment and all factors which can prevent success of the therapy are removed.

Patients treated with orthodontic-myofunctional therapeutic protocol.

AIM: The aim of this study is to report three cases that needed myofunctional and orthodontic treatment and the good results achieved after the therapy. Orthodontic treatment alone, in presence of bad habits, is not enough to solve the orthodontic issues, so it needs to be combined with myofunctional treatment.