Speaker: Barbara K. Tritz, RDH, BS, MSB
Program Track: Clinical
Course Description: The dental hygienist plays a vital role in oral health and systemic wellness. An important but missing piece to the puzzle is the patient's airway, cranial growth and development, and sleep health. Learn about orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD's) and then how to best address them through orofacial myofunctional therapy and the importance of a team approach to treatment. Myofunctional therapy is within our scope of practice. We must become the keep of the airway. We are the prime healthcare professional to watch over our patients and help them to breathe, sleep and swallow properly. Caries, periodontal disease and crooked teeth all have roots in a myofunctional disorder. Mouth breathing, tongue ties, breathing disordered sleep and crowded teeth: we can not get our patients truly healthy unless we address these problems. This course will help you screen for myofunctional disorders and introduce you to myofunctional therapy. Growing healthy children starts with being aware of OMD's. Take your dental hygiene care to the next level. It all starts with oxygen, and our patients are starving for it!
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize orofacial myofunctional disorders in their patients.
- Discuss the importance of nasal breathing for oral and systemic health
- Describe the importance of proper oral rest posture.
- Discuss the role of OMD's in breathing disordered sleep.
- Screen for OMD's in all their patients.
CE Credit Hours: 1.0
Original Date of Session: 26 June 2020
The American Dental Hygienists' Association is designated as an approved provider by the American Academy of Dental Hygiene, Inc. #AADHADH (Jan. 1, 2022–Dec. 31, 2022). Approval does not imply acceptance by a state or provincial Board of Dentistry. Licensee should maintain this document in the event of an audit.
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association is an approved provider of dental continuing education as recognized by the Dental Board of California, Provider #5238.