Our Services
What to Book?
Booking an appointment is very much driven by what your end goals are.
Assessment
Approx. 2 hours
We gather background history including factors that could be contributing to the current issues. We take pictures and videos to assess and study oral and facial muscle patterns. We evaluate breathing, swallowing, and chewing habits, and take measurements. We teach, listen, and determine an individualized treatment plan. During this appointment, we will also make appropriate referrals to other allied health professionals.
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
Individualized Treatment Program Plan
- ideally, appointments are booked every other week for 30 - 60 minutes
Therapy is customized to each patient and aims to retrain function to achieve goals.
*An Assessment must be completed prior to starting therapy.
Habit Elimination Program
Typically takes 5 appointments
Ages: 4+
This program uses the science behind the habit... We help to eliminate negative oral habits, such as thumb/finger sucking, nail/cuticle biting, tongue/lip/cheek sucking/biting, prolonged use of a pacifier, hair/pencil chewing. This program uses positive reinforcement strategies to make the difficult transition a good experience for everyone. The program can be completed on its own, or along with orofacial myofunctional therapy.
*Must have an assessment before beginning the program.
Pre- and Post- Frenectomy* Appointments
Ideally, these are part of a therapy program
Following an assessment appointment, if it is determined that a frenectomy* is required, based on appearance, function, compensation issues, and symptoms, these appointments provide a time to prepare the tissues, diminish scar tissue, help prevent reattachment, limit compensation issues, encourage movement, and begin on a path to establish full function.
Sometimes, when someone has a suspected "tongue-tie", it is beneficial to start myofunctional therapy prior to surgery, since retraining the muscles in the mouth and tongue can potentially eliminate the need for the release procedure if the individual can adequately achieve the desired function,
*A frenectomy is another word for the procedure that releases the restriction of a tethered-oral tissue, often called a lip- or tongue-tie.
If you are interested in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy but do not live in Lethbridge or Southern Alberta, we offer virtual therapy appointments after an initial assessment. Alternatively, please use the directory on the International Association of Orofacial Myology website to find an orofacial myologist near you (type in your location).