Summary: Myofunctional dentistry addresses tongue posture, breathing, chewing, and swallowing patterns, alongside orthodontic options that take a functional approach rather than treating teeth alignment on its own. Breathing Wellness Orlando's Traditional vs. Myofunctional category offers a range of options, from traditional braces to myofunctional-specific therapy and appliances, and the practice's facial pain care addresses related symptoms patients sometimes experience alongside these concerns.
Searching for a myofunctional dentist usually means you already have a sense that your situation involves more than straight teeth, things like tongue posture, breathing patterns, or how you chew and swallow. Myofunctional dentistry takes that broader, functional view rather than treating alignment as the only goal. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association describes this same combination, tongue positioning, breathing, chewing, and swallowing, as the functional picture orofacial myofunctional care is built to address, rather than any one pattern on its own.
This guide covers what myofunctional dentistry includes at Breathing Wellness Orlando, how it relates to facial pain concerns some patients also experience, and what to think about as you look for the right fit.
It is a reasonable search to run whether you are looking for yourself or for a family member, and the range of options covered below reflects that this is not a single, one-size-fits-all treatment.
What a myofunctional dentist treats at Breathing Wellness Orlando
Breathing Wellness Orlando's Traditional vs. Myofunctional category offers a range of options, some more traditional and some specifically myofunctional in approach, for patients in Orlando and across Central Florida looking for this kind of specialized care. The table below summarizes what the practice offers under this category.
| Option | General description |
|---|---|
| Oral appliance orthodontics (Vivos DNA) | Arch expansion and dental alignment using a removable oral appliance; specifics on fit and timeline are part of an individual evaluation |
| Clear aligners (Invisalign) | Removable clear trays that are periodically replaced as treatment progresses |
| Traditional braces | Wire-based appliances for more complex cases |
| Myofunctional orthodontics | Muscle training combined with functional appliances aimed at balancing bones and muscles |
| Myofunctional therapy | Exercise-based approach addressing tongue posture, breathing, chewing, and swallowing patterns |
Which of these fits a given patient depends on an individual evaluation. Because these options range from a removable appliance to an exercise-based therapy program, it helps to think of that evaluation as diagnostic first, identifying which combination of alignment, muscle function, and breathing concerns applies to you, before settling on a specific plan. You can see the full range of options on Breathing Wellness Orlando's Traditional vs. Myofunctional page.
Some of these options, like traditional braces and clear aligners, are more familiar to most patients, while others, like myofunctional therapy and myofunctional orthodontics, are specifically what sets a myofunctional-focused practice apart from a general dentist. Understanding that distinction is often part of why someone searches for a myofunctional dentist in the first place, rather than defaulting to a general orthodontist. The American Academy of Physiological Medicine & Dentistry describes this kind of therapy as working to support nasal breathing and muscle function within the craniofacial system, which is a different goal than aligning teeth on its own, even when the two approaches end up being combined.
For many people, searching for a myofunctional dentist near them is less about a single symptom and more about finding a provider equipped to look at tongue posture, airway, and alignment together, in one evaluation. Myofunctional-focused care is still a specialty within dentistry rather than the default approach, which is part of why that search tends to be more deliberate than booking a routine dental visit, and why confirming a practice actually offers it, rather than assuming any dentist does, is a reasonable first step.
Not sure which option applies to you? Schedule an appointment with Breathing Wellness Orlando.
How myofunctional concerns relate to facial pain
Myofunctional patterns do not always show up on their own. Jaw and posture-related symptoms are sometimes discussed alongside a myofunctional evaluation rather than treated as entirely separate concerns. If you experience jaw, head, or posture-related symptoms alongside a myofunctional concern, the practice's facial pain care addresses that related category of concerns.
This does not mean every myofunctional patient has facial pain, or the other way around. It means the two categories can overlap for some patients, which is one reason a broader evaluation can be useful rather than looking at either concern in isolation. Mentioning both, even if one feels more obvious than the other, gives the practice a fuller picture to evaluate from the start rather than adding context later.
Patients sometimes come in focused on one issue, tongue posture or alignment, for example, without realizing that a related symptom like jaw tension or headaches might be worth mentioning too. Bringing the full picture to an evaluation, rather than narrowing it down to what feels most obvious, tends to be more useful for both you and the practice.
Finding the right fit
Because Breathing Wellness Orlando offers more than one option under this category, from traditional braces to myofunctional-specific therapy, part of finding a myofunctional dentist near you is understanding which approach the practice would actually recommend for your situation. The practice is based in Orlando and serves patients across Central Florida.
Worth bringing to your first visit: If you have noticed tongue posture habits, mouth breathing, or difficulty with chewing or swallowing patterns, along with anything related to jaw or facial discomfort, mentioning all of it during your evaluation gives the practice a fuller picture to work from.
An initial evaluation is generally the starting point regardless of which option ends up making sense for you. During that evaluation, the practice looks at how your teeth, jaw, tongue, and airway work together, not just how your teeth are positioned, which is part of why the process can look a little different from a purely cosmetic or alignment-focused consultation.
If you are not sure where to start, contacting Breathing Wellness Orlando directly is a reasonable first step rather than trying to figure out the right option on your own.
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