CMT CMT Interdisciplinary Collaboration 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the myofunctional therapist's role in the care of a patient using CPAP therapy for severe OSA?
- Replace CPAP with orofacial exercises
- Improve CPAP compliance by addressing mouth breathing and oral symptoms such as dry mouth (Correct answer)
- Adjust CPAP pressure settings
- Diagnose the severity of OSA
Correct answer: Improve CPAP compliance by addressing mouth breathing and oral symptoms such as dry mouth
Myofunctional therapy can improve CPAP tolerance by training nasal breathing, reducing oral dryness from mouth breathing, and strengthening oropharyngeal tissues as a complementary therapy.
Question 2: A periodontist refers a patient with gingival recession on the lower anterior teeth. Which myofunctional habit may be contributing?
- High tongue posture
- Chronic lip sucking
- Low tongue posture with tongue pressing on lower front teeth (Correct answer)
- Nasal breathing
Correct answer: Low tongue posture with tongue pressing on lower front teeth
Low tongue resting posture with habitual pressure of the tongue against the lingual surface of the lower incisors can contribute to gingival recession and dental movement on the lower anterior teeth.
Question 3: An oral and maxillofacial surgeon recommends orthognathic surgery for a patient with severe skeletal open bite. What role does the myofunctional therapist play?
- Perform the pre-surgical imaging
- Provide pre-surgical myofunctional therapy and post-surgical rehabilitation to prevent relapse (Correct answer)
- Determine surgical candidacy
- Manage post-operative pain
Correct answer: Provide pre-surgical myofunctional therapy and post-surgical rehabilitation to prevent relapse
Myofunctional therapists provide pre-surgical habit elimination and post-surgical rehabilitation to ensure the orofacial muscles support and maintain the new skeletal relationship after surgery.
Question 4: When collaborating with a pediatric dentist regarding thumb-sucking in a 4-year-old, what is the appropriate myofunctional guidance?
- Immediately begin aversive therapy
- Monitor without intervention since most children stop spontaneously by age 4–6 (Correct answer)
- Fabricate a habit appliance immediately
- Refer to a psychologist only
Correct answer: Monitor without intervention since most children stop spontaneously by age 4–6
Most children naturally discontinue thumb-sucking by age 4–6, and aggressive early intervention is usually not warranted unless the habit is particularly intense or causing notable dental change.
Question 5: What type of documentation is MOST important when providing interdisciplinary myofunctional therapy as part of a dental-medical team?
- Marketing materials about services
- Detailed progress notes, baseline assessments, and outcome measures shared with collaborating providers (Correct answer)
- Financial records only
- Practice policy documents
Correct answer: Detailed progress notes, baseline assessments, and outcome measures shared with collaborating providers
Comprehensive documentation including baseline orofacial assessment, exercise protocols, measurable progress, and outcome data is essential for effective interdisciplinary communication and continuity of care.
Question 6: A physical therapist treating a patient for cervical dysfunction refers the patient for myofunctional assessment. What is the likely rationale for this referral?
- Cervical spine disorders are always caused by tongue tie
- Forward head posture is often associated with mouth breathing and altered orofacial muscle function that contributes to cervical strain (Correct answer)
- Myofunctional therapists treat neck pain directly
- The patient has dental pain
Correct answer: Forward head posture is often associated with mouth breathing and altered orofacial muscle function that contributes to cervical strain
Mouth breathing and low tongue posture often contribute to forward head posture; the altered head and neck position increases cervical strain, creating a myofunctional connection to cervical dysfunction.
CMT CMT Interdisciplinary Collaboration 2
What is the myofunctional therapist's role in the care of a patient using CPAP therapy for severe OSA?