https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/ MijnWebwinkel RSS 2.0 Feed v1.0 https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/ The position of the teeth is influenced by the function of the intra- and extra-oral muscles. OMFT is a training therapy to repair a disharmony. https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-3304605/our-products/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-3304605/our-products/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4444189/measuring/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4444189/measuring/ In oro myofunctional therapy (OMFT) it is important to measure the muscular forces on a regular base, such as the strength of the tongue in extension, the lip pressure and masseter contractile force. This not only makes the diagnosis much clearer and more transparent, but the measurements also provide clear guidelines for therapy. Moreover, it is of great importance that the diagnosis, the therapy and the progress of the therapy can be demonstrated to referrers by means of reproducible measurements. https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820370/muscular-forces/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820370/muscular-forces/ Muscular forcesIn oro myofunctional therapy (OMFT) it is important to measure the muscular forces on a regular base, such as the strength of the tongue in extension, the lip pressure and masseter contractile force. This not only makes the diagnosis much clearer and more transparent, but the measurements also provide clear guidelines for therapy. Moreover, it is of great importance that the diagnosis, the therapy and the progress of the therapy can be demonstrated to referrers by means of reproducible measurements. The tongue pressure in extension can be measured with the MyoScale. The strength of the lip muscles can be measured with the Force scale (and a button on a rope). The strength of the jaw and mouth muscles can be trained with the Myo Munchee. Its use contributes to obtaining good oral functions. It also contributes to healthy gums and good oral hygiene. https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820371/shape-of-the-dentition/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820371/shape-of-the-dentition/ Shape of the dentitionAn imbalance between the mouth muscles (lips, chewing muscles, tongue and tongue muscles) also influences the shape of the jaws and the position of the teeth and molars. An overjet and an overbite are easy to measure with a ruler or a periodontal probe. For a overjet in combination with an open bite (nagative overjet), only the SOB meter can be used. To get an indication whether you are dealing with a skeletal or myogenic open bite, a measurer for angle of mandible can be used. Measuring an open bite and the angle of mandible. https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820403/tongue-ties/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820403/tongue-ties/ Tongue tiesThe position of the tongue at rest is the most important factor that determines the shape of the upper jaw. For example, a narrow palatum is mainly determined by a low tongue position at rest. This also affect the growth direction of the entire face. A low resting position of the tongue will therefore often result in a vertical growth direction (see Vertical growth of the face). A low tongue position is very often caused by a too short or too stiff tongue tie. By performing clack and suction exercises, the upward force of the tongue will improve and the flexibility of the bottom of the mouth will increase, eliminating the need for surgical intervention by means of lasering or electrosurgery. Still it often is necessary that the tongue tie has to be removed or cleaved, because the short tongue tie permanently obstructs the normal position of the tongue. An English pediatrician, Lawrence Kotlow, has given guidelines for this: lengths of the tongue tie where intervention is required, when it may be necessary and when not. These guidelines are known as the Kotlow classification. Lawrence Kotlow, however, only measures the distance from the tip of the tongue to where the tongue tie is attached to the bottom of the tongue. Measuring the length of the tongue tie is also of importance within the oro myofunctional therapy (OMFT). For doning both measurements there are special tools available: the Kotlow rulers and the grooved director or the Tongue Guide Pro. The tongue is raised with the grooved director or the Tongue Guide Pro, after which the length of the tongue tie can be determined by choosing the correct Kotlow ruler. The distance from the bottom of the tongue to the top of the saliva caruncula is the distance to be measured, OMFT.info has developed the Kotlow rulers itself; handy and actually indispensable to quickly and properly determine when a referral must be made for correction of a tongue tie. Measuring the tongue tie with the Kotlow ruler and grooved director (left) and using the liper device (right). Correcting the tongue tie? Experience shows that intervention is usually not necessary for a Class 1. In a Class 2 intervention may be necessary, but sometimes OMFT exercises can achieve more flexibility in the bottom of the mouth and motr strength in the tongue, making it possible to learn a good tongue position at rest and while swallowing. With a Class 3 and 4 exercises will be insufficiently successful and intervention by means of a frenlectomy or frenulotomy is necessary. Lawrence Kotlow says about this:When determining the need to revise the frenum in infants and children, the following guidelines are suggested: ∙ The lingual attachment should not create a diastema (gap) between the lower front teeth. ∙ The lingual attachment should not cause excessive force on the lower front teeth causing them to tip backward. ∙ The lingual attachment should not cause severe blanching of the gum tissue behind the lower front teeth. ∙ The lingual attachment should not prevent a normal swallowing pattern. The tongue should be able to lick the lips and allow the tongue to clean the tooth surfaces after eating. ∙ The lingual attachment should not prevent a normal swallowing pattern. The tongue should easily touch the roof of the mouth. ∙ The lingual attachment should not cause abrasion to the underside of the tongue. ∙ The lingual attachment should not interfere with certain eating pleasures. ∙ The lingual attachment should not interfere with certain social activities. ∙ The lingual attachment should not affect the speech. After the tongue tie has been corrected, the place where the tongue tie has been should be regularly massaged to prevent adhesion of the wound edges. This is very easy with a liper device or a Tongue Guide Infant Home. https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820377/vertical-growth-of-the-face/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820377/vertical-growth-of-the-face/ Vertical growth of the faceAn experienced OMFT therapist often works with trainers. Preferably at a young age, to influence the growth and the direction of the jaws to a good growth direction. After all, open mouth behavior and a low tongue position can lead to a more vertical growth of the lower jaw. Lower indicator line and measuring the angle of mandible.To determine whether the growth direction of the jaws is correct, the upper and lower indicator line must be determined at different times during the therapy. This can be done with a digital caliper. The digital caliper is also useful for measuring the maximum mouth opening, the mouth opening with the tongue raised and the interincisal distance (measuring the mouth opening with a sucked tongue). With vertical growth, the jaw angle also increases. This is easy to determine with the measurer for angle of mandible. There are different opinions about when there is a deviating jaw angle. A normal jaw angle is between 85 and 120 degrees. In our OMFT.info courses, we therefore state that a jaw angle greater than 120 degrees is abnormal. This is in line with the view of the American orthodontist C. Steiner, who states that a deviating jaw angle is between 120 and 130 degrees. However, another orthodontist from the United States, J. Jarabak, believes that there is only a deviating jaw angle between 123 and 137 degrees. https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-3380142/special-techniques/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-3380142/special-techniques/ During oro-myofunctional therapy (OMFT) a lot of practice is required to learn the correct resting position of the tongue, to learn a correct swallow and to unlearn mouth breathing. There are various techniques that can help with this: ∙ The Payne technique, to visualize the position of the tongue at rest and when swallowing. ∙ Taping, to mask the lips when the mouth is open or to prevent mouth breathing. ∙ Learning to swallow. ∙ Other techniques to support the exercises. https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820381/payne-technique/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820381/payne-technique/ Payne techniqueMany OMFT problems are related to an abnormal swallow and/or a low tongue position. It is important to find out how a client is swallowing and to make this clear to the client himself. The Payne technique offers a solution. ∙ With a spatula, fluorescent Payne pasta is applied to various points on the tongue. ∙ The tongue is brought in, after which it is checked with a mirror whether imprints of the tongue position at rest are visible on the palate. ∙ Then the client swallows. The traces of the Payne pasta on the palate and tongue indicate how the tongue moved during the moment of swallowing and whether there is an abnormal swallow. By using the Payne lamp, the impressions of the fluorescent Payne pasta can be clearly made visible, by shining through a mirror on the palate. The swallowing traces can be seen. https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820378/taping/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820378/taping/ TapingWith open mouth behavior and mouth breathing, the strength of the orbicularis oris muscle is insufficient. Whether that force is (in) sufficient can be measured with the Force scale. To strengthen a flaccid orbicularis oris muscle, in addition to the various lip-strengthening exercises for this, the OMFT regularly uses masking of the lips with a lip plaster. This can be done with various techniques and materials, such as Omnifix, Fixomull stretch, Micropore, Myotape and kinesio taping, for which Cure tape is usually used. Kinesiotape stimulates hypotonic muscles and inhibits hypertonic muscles: the skin is lifted, which affects the function of the underlying muscles. To influence the orbicularis oris muscle, the Cure tape is applied with 10–20% stretch, so that it has an activating effect on the orbicularis oris muscle. The client feels the muscle contract, causing the lips to close. Yet there is the possibility to open the mouth and speak. This way of kinesio taping can be used while sleeping and during the day. https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820379/learning-a-correct-swallow/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820379/learning-a-correct-swallow/ Learning a correct swallowWhen teaching a correct swallow, you can practice with drinking water from a glass. There is also a tool available to automate the correct swallow: the FroggyMouth. Drinking from a glass When teaching to swallow in the right way, you can practice the swallowing steps by letting the client drink water from a glass. If the tongue comes out immediately at the start of the sip or too large gulps are swallowed, you can use a syringe. Also if the client can not hold a sip of water with the tongue while the molars are not in occlusion, the syringe can be helpful. Ask the client to bring the tip of the tongue to ‘the spot’, behind the upper teeth (papilla incisiva). The molars are brought into occlusion and the lips are closed. Place the end of the dosing syringe in between the lips in the corner. Spray a small amount of water into the mouth, towards the molars. Let the client suck the water on the tongue. The client then lowers the lower jaw while the tongue is being placed against the palate and holds the water. Subsequently swallowing is done according to the swallowing steps described in the oro myofunctional protocol. No sound may be heard during the swallow moment. If a slurp is heard, this indicates the unwinding of the tongue is insufficient.FroggyMouth The FroggyMouth corrects the swallowing functions by teaching a new behavior pattern. With a FroggyMouth between the lips, the upper and lower teeth make light contact during swallowing and the tongue presses properly against the roof of the mouth (the tip of the tongue just behind the front upper teeth). The FroggyMouth is worn for 15 minutes a day while watching television. In that time the swallowing pattern changes, which eventually ensures that this also happens when the FroggyMouth is not worn. This requires at least three months. https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-5594667/correct-tongue-position/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-5594667/correct-tongue-position/ Nose breathing and the associated correct tongue position are crucial for healthy growth and development of jaws and teeth. During nasal breathing, the tongue can remain in the right place against the roof of the mouth (with the tip of the tongue just behind the upper teeth), thereby stimulating normal development of the upper jaw. When breathing through the mouth, the tongue moves down and forward, while at the same time increasing pressure from the cheeks. Mouth breathing in this way eventually leads to a narrow and high palate. The upper dental arch is given a V-shape instead of the normal U-shape, leaving no room for the teeth to line up neatly. Incorrect swallowing also occurs, in which the tongue presses against the front teeth while swallowing and those teeth come forward. That leads to an open bite. During oro myofunctional therapy (OMFT), clients learn the importance of breathing through the nose with the lips closed and the tongue in the right position. The following methods will stimulate with this. ∙ Training correct tongue position at rest: Place a orthodontic elastic on the flat part of the tip of the tongue and then let the client place the tip of the tongue (with that elastic band) in the correct position behind the upper teeth (alveolus) and the rest of the tongue connecting against the palate. A correct tongue position can also be trained with myospots. Let the client stick a myospot to the palate, just behind the upper teeth. A flavored myospot at the top of the mouth invites the tip of the tongue to touch it, until it dissolves. This is a good training method to get the tongue in the right position. ∙ Automate the correct tongue position: Training the correct tongue position does not mean that this immediately becomes an automatism for the client. The Re-mind offers a solution. This device regularly vibrates without the environment noticing. When at that moment the lips are open and the tongue is low in the mouth, the moment of vibration is the signal to close the lips and place the tongue properly. The Re-mind can be put in a trouser pocket or breast pocket; as long as there is enough contact with the body to feel the vibration. A correct tongue position can also be automated with the FroggyMouth. The FroggyMouth focuses on correct swallowing functions by teaching a new behavior pattern. Correct tongue placement is also taught at the same time. With a FroggyMouth between the lips, the upper and lower teeth make light contact during swallowing and the tongue presses properly against the roof of the mouth (the tip of the tongue just behind the front upper teeth). The FroggyMouth is worn for 15 minutes a day while watching television. In that time the swallowing pattern changes, which eventually ensures that this also happens when the FroggyMouth is not worn. This requires at least three months. https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820454/short-upper-lip/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4820454/short-upper-lip/ Short upper lipTo correct an upper lip that is too short, place a cotton roll behind the upper lip to the left and right of the lip tie and then have the client close the lips for at least 5 to 15 minutes. If the client finds dry cotton rolls uncomfortable, the rolls can be moistened before use. https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4217364/taking-pictures/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-4217364/taking-pictures/ Photos are very important for proper documentation. They are not only necessary to show the client the effect of their efforts, but also for a well-documented consultation with a dentist, orthodontist or dental surgeon. Cheek holders are indispensable to be able to take good mouth pictures: the client does not have to keep the corners of the mouth out with the fingers to get a good view of the teeth. There are small cheek holders for children and large ones for adults; in between are the medium-sized holders, which are wider than the small ones, but still have a small mouth angle. The T- and V-shaped cheeck holders are useful for pictures of the premolar and molar area. This is because the tension can be increased or decreased at one side, depending on the side to be photographed. This is not possible with the double cheeck holders, because they always give the same tension on both sides. Photo's with the help of cheek holders, a professional mouth mirror and a photo grid.Work with a professional mouth mirror to also take beautiful pictures of the upper jaw. Place the mirror in the mouth, with the wide side for the best result. There are large mirrors for adults and smaller ones for children. With a photo grid as a background for posture and profile photos, the characteristics of posture and profile can be clearly visualized and here too it is very illustrative to show the changes during the course of the therapy. https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-3304606/contact/ https://www.webshop-omft.info/en_GB/c-3304606/contact/ Please place your question and your contact information below: