Frequently Asked Questions Before Therapy
I'm so glad you are here. Please, allow me to answer the most common questions I get to help you make an informed decision and move forward with scheduling your full evaluation.
-Tamara and Selina
Can myofunctional therapy help me?
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy helps retrain orofacial muscles to perform its functions correctly. We focus on improving nasal breathing and optimizing the rest posture of the lips and tongue.
What are the benefits of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?
When the goals of myofunctional therapy are achieved we may see a variety of improvements. It depends on what the patients’ symptoms are and if they are related to myofunctional disorders. Every single person is going to present with different complaints and issues.
The most common improvements my patients have reported are:
- More restful sleep
- More energy and focus
- Dreaming more often
- Improvement with allergies
- Less dark circles under the eyes
What age range do you work with?
We usually start seeing patients around age 4 and into adulthood. No one is ever too old for therapy
*If you have a younger child, you can reach out to a speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist who specializes is feeding therapy.
Do you see patients online?
Yes. We see patients both in person and online.
How much does it cost?
30 min. Consultation $130
60 min. Functional Evaluation $199
30 min. Therapy Sessions $180
*Prices are subject to change
Do you offer a discount for families?
Yes. Second patient of the same family gets a complimentary discount
Who is going to be doing my therapy?
You will be seeing either Tamara or Selina. Find out more about them here: https://www.facialphysique.com/our-team
How long does treatment take?
Treatment can range from 6-12 months for adults for children.
But this is not a rule, it depends on the chief complaint, motivation of the patient, and if any other therapy/treatment modalities are involved.
Can I stop sessions at any time?
Yes. If for any reason you do not want to continue therapy, send us an email and we will be happy to stop therapy.
*No refunds for therapy sessions completed, administrative time or kit supplies already completed
Do you charge a cancellation fee?
If you cannot make your appointment, please cancel at least 48 hours before the appointment so we can provide that time to another patient.
If you fail to notify us of the cancellation a fee will apply.
What types of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards. All payments can be done online through our patient portal.
To access the portal click here: https://facialphysique.clientsecure.me
Do you take insurance?
We are a fee for service practice. We do not have capability to offer super bills or work with insurance. We do not take HSA or FSA cards that require any time of ICD codes. This is the patients responsibility to check prior to appointments.
How do I make an appointment?
Click on the link below and select "consult." All consults are done virtually, even if local.
https://facialphysique.clientsecure.me
How does therapy work?
We start with a 30 minute initial virtual consult. We will send you forms from our secure EHR software (SimplePractice) asking you to fill out paperwork. Remember to check your spam folder if you do not receive. The paperwork is comprehensive so please allow approximately 15 minutes to complete. At the consult we will review chief complaints, symptoms, nasal hygiene plan, sleep hygiene plan for you to implement and create the team of providers to support our success with myofunctional therapy.
After the 30 minute consult, we will schedule a full functional evaluation which is approximately an hour. The functional assessment includes a series of photos, measurements, tests and scoring systems to form a customized therapy plan unique to your presenting symptoms and needs. If local, we prefer to see you in our office located in Poway, Ca. At that appointment we will give you the therapy kit. You will not need to do anything except show up for that appointment.
We will send an therapy kit to virtual clients and a step by step of "how to take assessment photos" document through the EHR portal (SimplePractice) with all of the photos that need to be taken prior to the appointment and uploaded into the portal. Please follow the instructions well so we get great starting photos. On those photo instructions, you will also find the supplies you will need to bring for that appointment.
After the functional assessment we will schedule therapy sessions. Your therapy kit should be placed in a safe place and brought to each appointment. Lost items can be replaced at an extra cost.
We want to have efficient sessions that support the upmost success for our clients so here are key points for virtual appointments:
Good lighting and a fast internet service is a must!
Camera on a
solid surface
and the clients still (no moving cars please)
Therapy appointments are usually every 2-3 weeks and last about 30-40 min. We have both virtual and in person appointments
Ready to start your journey into optimal health?
General
What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT)?
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is neuromuscular re-education exercises to assist the normalization of the developing, or developed, craniofacial structures and function. OMT is the study, research, prevention, evaluation of functional and structural alterations in the region of the mouth (oro), face (facial) and regions of the neck (oropharyngeal area).
What are the goals of OMT?
The goals of OMT are nasal breathing, lip seal and proper tongue posture
What are the main problems related to Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs)?
The main problems related to OMDs are alterations in muscle function of the face and oral cavity as well the position of the lips, tongue (including what is known as oral rest posture.)
Is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy just for kids?
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is also appropriate for adults. In many instances, a myofunctional dysfunction develops in response to late jaw growth, worsening of a malocclusion over time, or other reasons such as tooth loss. Therapy for adult patients is typically efficient. Adults of all ages can achieve success.
What should you expect during a typical exam related to OMT?
Our team looks at a list of things during a myofunctional therapy examination, including:
- Mouth breathing vs. nasal breathing
- Where the tongue rests in the mouth
- Tongue-mobility
- Tongue space
- Jaw instability
- Facial structure and growth
- Compensations
- Habits such as thumb and finger sucking
We teach patients exercises that relate to tongue placement and breathing.
We want the tongue to rest completely on the roof of the mouth and the lips to stay closed.
RELATED TO
Tongue-tie
(Lingual-Frenulum)
RELATED TO
Mouth Breathing
RELATED TO
Sleep Apnea
RELATED TO