• Myofunctional therapy treats mouth and facial disorders of muscular function
  • Reduce or prevent the need for orthodontics, or orthodontic relapse
  • Help improve sleep apnea & snoring, headaches, TMJ disorder, and more
  • Natural, nonsurgical solution customized to meet your needs

Dr. Milligan and the team of Eastland Dental Center in Bloomington, IL take pride in providing comprehensive oral care for our patients. This includes a number of advanced treatments, including myofunctional therapy.

Understanding muscle function and dysfunction

OMD (orofacial myofunctional disorder) is a classification of disorders affecting the face and mouth. These conditions may impact oral health, speech development, the ability to chew and swallow, and much more. Depending on the severity of OMD, it can also affect facial esthetics.

Central to diagnosis and treatment of an OMD is the position of the tongue when swallowing. Although swallowing does not require conscious thought, it actually involves a complex and precise coordination between nerves and muscles of the throat, tongue, and cheeks.

On average, a person will swallow between 500 and 1000 times each day. Therefore, the effects of improper swallowing can be significant and wide-ranging. There may include:

  • Orthodontic problems
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Speech impediments
  • TMJ dysfunction

What is myofunctional therapy?

For most people, OMD can be improved without medications, surgery, or invasive procedures. Treatment generally involves therapeutic exercise of the affected muscles, directed by a trained professional. An important aspect of the treatment program is teaching the patient enhanced awareness of tongue position and muscle movement.

Because every patient, and every OMD is different, myofunctional therapy is tailored to the specific needs of each patient. In some cases, additional treatments may be recommended in order to correct malocclusion or other damages caused by OMD.

Call Eastland Dental Center at (309) 663-4711 and arrange a consultation to find out if you might benefit from myofunctional therapy.

Eastland Dental Center

Eastland Dental Center is owned and operated by the father-daughter duo, Dr. Mike Milligan and Dr. Marisa Milligan.

Dr. Mike completed his doctor of dental medicine degree from Southern Illinois University in 1978. Dr. Marisa completed her doctor of dental medicine degree from Midwestern University in 2015. Both doctors have logged hundreds of hours of continuing education to stay on top of the latest technologies in dentistry as well as the most current research on the oral-systemic, mouth-body connection to benefit their patients. Dr. Mike and Dr. Marisa are active members and in excellent standing with the American Dental Association, Illinois State Dental Association, Chicago Dental Society, McLean County Dental Association, American Academy of Oral Systemic Health, and numerous other societies.

Both doctors are avid golfers and have won several national golf tournaments over the years. They are the only father-daughter team in the state to have won the Illinois State Amateur Golf Championship. Dr. Mike in 1974 and Dr. Marisa in 2005.