Orange County Dental Hygienists' Society Presents Our...

Summer Conference

 Orofacial myofunctional therapy encompasses proper breathing, chewing and swallowing with behavior modification and support for eliminating habit patterns which may become a night mare for occlusal stability. Part of periodontal stability is effected by the forces of these muscles as well as the effects of mouth breathing on periodontal health. This course will enable the hygienist to identify oral myofunctional disorders and determine if they want to become involved in this evolving, incredible therapy.

The participant will be able to:

     Understand the relationship of OMT to the treatment of periodontal disease

     Learn the science behind the treatment of oral muscle disorders

     Identify oral habits that interfere with proper oral rest posture.

      Recognize the incorrect rest position of the tongue.

      Determine if there is an incorrect swallowing pattern.

      Learn how to incorporate Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy into your practice

      Determine if there is adequate lip seal.

      Examine and know when to refer labial and lingual frenum restriction.

Orofacial Myofunctional therapy is a program designed to re-pattern swallowing, chewing and breathing.

Joy Moeller, BS, RDH, is a Registered Dental Hygienist and is a former associate professor Indiana University School of Dentistry, and has been practicing orofacial myofunctional therapy for over 30 years. She is an on- going guest lecturer at USC,  UCLA, Loma Linda University, West Coast University, and Cerritos College to ortho, perio, and pedo dental residents and hygiene students. She is currently holding a position at the UCLA in a growth and development class for Pedo and Ortho residents with Dr. Clarice Law and the Sleep Medicine Mini Residency Program at UCLA/NYU where she may be doing research the effects of myofunctional exercises on sleep apnea. She received her dental hygiene degree from Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, Illinois with the Sigma Phi Alpha award. She attended the Myofunctional Therapy Institute in Coral Gables, Florida with an extended internship in 1980 and the Coulson Institute in 2003 in Denver, Colorado. She is currently a speaker of the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (AOMT) and has taught courses in OMT at the venues of USC, UCSD, UCBC, UCSF, Columbia University, University of Sydney, Australia, Columbia University, the Guttenberg University in Mainz, Germany, Freiberg University in Freiberg, Germany, Louvain, University in Brussels, Belgium, and many other locations around the world. She has worked with Children’s Hospital, was a consultant for a sealant program for indigent children, worked in the Super Tooth Program, and in public schools as a health educator in the Smiles Program where she developed a preventive orthodontic program. She is currently in the exclusive practice as an orofacial myofunctional therapist in Pacific Palisades, California and Beverly Hills, California. She teaches a 4 day course in orofacial myofunctional therapy.  Joy was a speaker at the Cranial Academy international meeting in June, 2008 and at the AAGO meeting in October 2008 where she spoke on Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy…The Critical Missing Element in Complete Patient Care.  She has spoken at the International Association for Facial Growth Guidance in 2010, the ACE dental meeting in 2010, the ATPA meeting in 2010, and the Townie meeting in 2010. She also has written many articles recently published in  2010 in Dental Town, 2009 in RDH, 2008 in the California Dental Hygiene Journal (winter edition) the Orthodontic Tribune.(August, September and October 2008), the Dental Tribune, October 2008, and the Journal of the American Orthodontic Society, (April 2009 and April 2012). She co-authored a book with Linda Krol, RDH, called “Taking It Further, A Guide for Periodontal Therapy”. She just finished writing her books “Ten Secrets of a Beautiful Smile” which will be published soon and a children’s book called “Tucker the Tongue Finds His Spot.”, which is now available on Amazon.

 

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