Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD)?
An OMD occurs when there is atypical muscle patterning at rest and/or during chewing and swallowing.
How long is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy treatment?
The active treatment portion of a habit cessation program is approximately 1 month in length and involves a few appointments. Habit cessation programs are available for lip licking, pacifier use, blanket sucking, tongue sucking, digit sucking, nail biting, etc.
Formal orofacial myology treatment is typically 12-20 weeks in length, depending on several factors, including the severity of the orofacial myofunctional disorder and patient compliance. Patients are seen weekly. Active treatment is divided into four phases: (1) Exercise intensive; (2) Functional Performance; (3) Habituation; and (4) Maintenance.
What does orofacial myofunctional therapy treatment entail?
Orofacial myofunctional therapy involves various exercises and activities to change muscle memory and promote balanced muscle functions of the oral and facial muscles.
Do you treat adults?
Yes, we treat individuals of all ages, including infants and adults.
How much does treatment cost?
Total cost of treatment varies depending on services provided and length of treatment. We try to keep our services affordable for our patients and their families. Please contact us directly for more information.
Where do we meet for appointments?
We offer televisits and in-person appointments in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA.
I'm a SLP, dental provider, or medical care provider. How can I learn more?
Email us at info@pghomt.com to schedule a lunch-and-learn or request a referral pad online.
What precautions are you taking regarding COVID-19?
As always, we are continuing to offer televisit appointments.
We are committed to staying current and following all public health requirements of Allegheny County and the State of Pennsylvania as well as the CDC and OSHA. We are also following the best practices of our professional organizations for in-person appointments.
Masks are recommended for entry into the building for anyone age 2 and up. If you need a mask, we will provide you with a disposable one.
We ask that you rearrange your appointment if your temperature is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit or if you have a cough, shortness of breath, reduced sense of taste or smell, flu-like symptoms, have traveled out of state or to the country in the past 14 days, have recently tested positive for Coronavirus, or have recently been in contact with someone who has tested positive.
As always, we will cleanse our hands at the beginning of each treatment session, and we ask that you also use hand sanitizer when you enter the room.
A HEPA air filtration system will be used during each session.
Single-use items will be used when possible, and all hard surfaces will be wiped down with an EPA-approved COVID disinfectant. We also use an autoclave for sterilizing some equipment.