The efficacy of myofunctional therapy in temporomandibular disorders
Pasqualina Andretta, Anna Rita Beghetto, Marika Cherubin, Luca Guarda-Nardini
The study aims to investigate the incidence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in subjects with altered oral functions and to verify the efficacy of myofunctional therapy in these subjects. The study was conducted on 52 subjects with orofacial myofunctional disorders. 24 of them also presented signs and symptoms of TMD. 22 out of the 24 were selected (20 females, 2 males) since they had been treated using myofunctional therapy. A rebalancing of orofacial muscles and a restoration of oral functions were observed after the treatment. There was also a reduction of signs and symptoms of TMD and consequently of the discomfort that subjects perceived. There was a high incidence of TMD in subjects with orofacial myofunctional disorders. The myofunctional therapy revealed itself efficient and effective in subjects with TMD associated with dysfunctional swallowing.
Keywords
Temporomandibular joint disorder, Orofacial myofunctional disorders, Myofunctional therapy.