What is orofacial myology?

"Orofacial Myology is a specialized oral discipline that evaluates and treats a variety of oral and facial (orofacial) muscle (myo-) postural and functional disorders and habit patterns that may disrupt normal dental development and also create cosmetic problems." - IAOM

What can an orofacial myofunctional disorder cause?

• Crooked teeth or orthodontic relapse

• Headaches

• TMJ (jaw joint) pain

• Forward head posture

• Digestive disorders such as acid reflux or stomach aches from air swallowing

• Sleep and breathing disorders

• Oral lesion from tongue irritation

• Gum disease

• Psychological problems

• Failure to thrive and other child development problems

• Middle ear drainage issues

• Grinding or clenching of the teeth

• Drooling

• Habits, such as nail-biting, thumb-sucking, hair chewing, lip or cheek biting

What is a tongue tie?

• Ankyloglossia/tongue tie: A congenital formation of the lingual frenulum that restricts range of motion of the tongue contributing to functional deficits


• Ankylolabia/lip tie: A congenital formation of the labial frenulum that restricts range of motion of the lips contributing to functional deficits


• Buccal/cheek tie: A congenital formation of the buccal frenulum that restricts range of motion of the cheeks contributing to functional deficits

Why myofunctional therapy?

Correcting oral motor dysfunction through therapy can help:
- Stabilize current dental and orthodontic treatments
- Improve articulation and speech intelligibility
- Increase awareness of tongue, lip, and jaw posture
- Establish normal swallow patters
- Maintain optimum oral health for a lifetime of benefits

How do I know if my child has a feeding disorder?

Your child may have a feeding or swallowing problem if they:



• arch their back or stiffen when feeding


• cry or fuss when feeding


• fall asleep when feeding


• have problems breastfeeding
/bottlefeeding

• have trouble breathing while eating and drinking


• refuse to eat or drink


• eat only certain textures, such as soft food or crunchy food


• take a long time to eat


• pocket (which means to hold food in their mouth)


• have problems chewing


• cough or gag during meals


• drool a lot or have liquid come out of their mouth or nose


• get stuffy during meals


• have a gurgly, hoarse, or breathy voice during or after meals


• spit up or throw up a lot


• are not gaining weight or growing


  (Reference: https://www.asha.org/public/speech/swallowing/feeding-and-swallowing-disorders-in-children/#signs)

What populations do you serve?

At The Functional Foundations, we serve individuals across the lifespan who can benefit from oral function, feeding, occupational therapy, and myofunctional support. Our team specializes in working with:

• Infants — supporting breast and bottle feeding, oral function, and comfort for babies experiencing challenges such as tethered oral tissues, reflux, tension, or difficulty latching.

• Toddlers and Children — addressing feeding challenges, picky eating, oral-motor delays, motor delays, and sensory-based feeding concerns to build positive, functional mealtime experiences.

• Older Children, Teens, and Adults — providing myofunctional therapy to support healthy breathing, swallowing, oral rest posture, sleep, and speech.

• Families — empowering parents and caregivers with education, tools, and home programs to create sustainable progress beyond the therapy session.

Our approach is holistic, collaborative, and individualized—aimed at helping every client experience greater ease, function, and confidence in daily life.

What is a comprehensive evaluation?

All evaluations are comprehensive and information gathering occurs prior to services. Please complete all intake paperwork and submit prior to arrival for evaluation. During evaluation, pictures/videos will be taken for information gathering purposes. Serving only TN.

*If you reside outside of TN, I still want to help you! Please fill out the contact form so we can set up a consultation to find you the local services you need.

Do you do virtual therapy?

I sure do! You will receive a link through the patient portal to connect to a HIPPA compliant video conference (similar to Zoom and Google Meet).

What can I do to get started?

Please go to the contact page and inquire there, or send an email to hello@thefunctionalfoundations.com.

Do you take insurance?

The Functional Foundations operates as an out-of-network provider and does not hold preferred or contracted status with any insurance companies. This allows us to offer the highest quality of individualized care without restrictions on treatment time or approach.

Our rates reflect the provider’s advanced training, education, and experience, and remain competitive within the market. Upon request, we are happy to provide a superbill or itemized invoice that patients may submit to their insurance for possible reimbursement.

Payment is due at the time of service and may be made by cash, check, debit or credit card, or FSA/HSA card.