If a member of our team has mentioned “orofacial myology” or suggested your child see an orofacial myologist, you might be wondering what that actually means. It’s a less familiar term than “filling” or “check-up”, so it’s completely understandable to have questions. This guide explains what orofacial myology is, what an assessment might involve, and how it can sometimes connect with other areas of your child’s dental care — in plain, reassuring language.
What does “orofacial myology” actually mean?
Orofacial myology is the study and support of how the muscles of the face, mouth and tongue work together for everyday functions like swallowing, chewing, breathing and speech. These muscles work as a team, largely without us thinking about it — but for some children, the way these muscles rest, move or coordinate can look a little different to what’s typically expected.
An orofacial myologist looks specifically at these patterns of muscle function. This is a distinct area of practice from general dentistry, and it’s one part of a broader, team-based approach to your child’s care.
Orofacial myology support at Tooth Town
Tooth Town works with orofacial myologists as part of our broader team-based approach to care, supporting children with orofacial function assessment and therapy alongside our dental team. This means that, where appropriate, this kind of assessment can be considered as part of your child’s overall care at Tooth Town, rather than requiring you to seek it out separately.
Could orofacial muscle patterns be relevant to my child’s dental development?
This is a nuanced area, and we want to be upfront about what we do and don’t know in any individual case before an assessment has taken place.
Habits and patterns such as where the tongue rests, how a child swallows, or whether a child tends to breathe through the mouth may sometimes be relevant to dental and orthodontic development. All of the general dentists consulting at Tooth Town are well versed in screening for airway-related signs, such as mouth breathing, as part of routine check-ups, which is often how a possible referral for an orofacial myology assessment first comes up. Every child is different, and the significance of any particular pattern can only be properly understood through an individual assessment — not by comparing your child to a general list of “signs”.
We’re not able to say, in general terms, that a particular habit will definitely affect your child’s teeth, jaw growth, sleep, airway or speech. What we can say is that if a clinician raises this with you, it’s because they think it may be worth a closer look — and that closer look is exactly what an orofacial myology assessment is for.
What might an orofacial myology assessment involve?
Every child’s assessment is individual, but in general terms, an assessment may involve:
- A functional assessment of how the muscles of the mouth, tongue and face are working — for example, during rest, swallowing or speech.
- A discussion of habits that may be relevant, such as tongue position, breathing patterns or feeding history, in the context of your child’s own history and any concerns you or your child’s clinician have raised.
- Where relevant, gentle support to help a child move away from a prolonged thumb-sucking or dummy habit, through a structured, positive cessation program rather than aversive methods.
- Where appropriate, the development of an individualised plan, tailored to what the assessment finds for your child specifically.
We haven’t listed specific exercises, session numbers or a program length here, because these are genuinely individual — they depend on what the assessment finds and what’s appropriate for your child. The orofacial myologist will talk you through what’s recommended for your child directly.
How does this connect with tongue tie, orthodontic care or thumb-sucking habits?
Orofacial function can sometimes come up in conversation alongside other areas of care at Tooth Town, including:
- Tongue and lip tie assessment with Dr Helen Fung, where function is a key part of what’s being assessed.
- Early interceptive orthodontic assessment, where the way the tongue and surrounding muscles work can sometimes be part of the broader picture.
- Thumb-sucking and dummy habits that are continuing beyond the toddler years, where a gentle cessation program can help support a child in moving on from the habit before it affects the developing teeth and jaw.
Our orofacial myologists work alongside these clinicians as part of a team-based approach to care. This doesn’t mean every child seen for a tongue tie, orthodontic or thumb-sucking concern will automatically be referred for an orofacial myology assessment, or vice versa — referral depends on what’s relevant for that individual child, and will always be discussed with you first.
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need to see an orofacial myologist?
Not necessarily. Most children don’t require this kind of assessment. If it’s relevant for your child, it’s something your child’s clinician will raise with you directly, based on what they observe during your child’s usual dental visits.
Can I request an orofacial myology assessment if I have concerns?
Yes, you’re welcome to raise it with our team. We’ll talk through your concerns and, if an assessment seems appropriate, help arrange it as part of your child’s care.
Will orofacial myology fix my child’s tongue tie, orthodontic issue, sleep or speech difficulty?
We can’t promise a specific outcome, and it wouldn’t be accurate to suggest that myofunctional therapy alone resolves these things. Any relationship between muscle function and these areas is individual, and an orofacial myology assessment — together with your child’s treating clinician — will help clarify what’s appropriate for your child specifically.
Can an orofacial myologist help my child stop sucking their thumb or using a dummy?
Yes — this is one of the things our orofacial myologists can support. They offer gentle, structured cessation programs designed to help guide children away from the habit using positive techniques, which can be particularly helpful if the habit is continuing beyond the toddler years. Our thumb-sucking and dummy use guide has more detail.
Is this the same as speech therapy?
No. Orofacial myology focuses specifically on the muscles of the mouth and face and how they function during things like swallowing and rest. If speech concerns are identified, your child’s clinician may suggest involving a speech pathologist as part of a broader team approach.
How do I know if my child has a “problem” with their orofacial muscles?
We’d encourage you not to try to self-diagnose this from checklists or things you’ve read online. Every child’s mouth and muscle patterns are different, and what matters is an individual assessment, not a general symptom list. If you have questions, please raise them with our team.
Does having an orofacial myology assessment mean something is wrong with my child?
No. An assessment is simply a closer look at how the muscles of the mouth and face are working. It doesn’t imply a diagnosis, and many assessments confirm that no treatment is needed at all.
What to do next
If a member of our team has suggested an orofacial myology assessment, or you have questions about orofacial function after reading this guide, we’re happy to talk it through with you. Book an appointment or contact Tooth Town, and we’ll help you understand whether this is relevant for your child and what the next step would involve.
This guide is general information and doesn’t replace an individual assessment. Your child’s clinician and the orofacial myologist will confirm what’s most appropriate for your child after assessment.