Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent medical condition with important implications for overall health and quality of life in both children. Therefore, it is important to treat OSA early and effectively. However, adenotonsillectomy, the standard therapeutic approach for children with OSA, is often inadequate. Research shows that 20-40% of children still have residual OSA symptoms after surgery. Therefore, exploring other treatment options, specifically for those patients who currently have insufficient therapeutic options, is an interesting and relevant avenue for research. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of orofacial myofunctional therapy as a treatment option for children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Orofacial myofunctional therapy consists of a set of oropharyngeal exercises to correct abnormal orofacial functions and strengthen upper airway muscles that are involved in maintaining airway patency. Both objective and subjective/patient-reported outcomes are collected to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the potential of orofacial myofunctional therapy as a treatment for OSA.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent medical condition with important implications for overall health and quality of life in both children. Therefore, it is important to treat OSA early and effectively. Children with Down syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome have many predisposing factors for OSA, including mouth breathing, narrow upper airways resulting from craniofacial abnormalities, and generalized hypotonia, which increases UA collapsibility and multilevel obstructions. Adenotonsillectomy is the first-line treatment. Unfortunately, up to 55% of children with Down syndrome and up to 79% of children with Prader-Willi syndrome suffer from residual OSA after adenotonsillectomy. Therefore, exploring other treatment options for these children is an interesting and relevant avenue for research. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of orofacial myofunctional therapy as a treatment option for children with Down syndrome or Prader-Willi syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea. Orofacial myofunctional therapy consists of a set of oropharyngeal exercises to correct abnormal orofacial functions and strengthen upper airway muscles that are involved in maintaining airway patency. Both objective and subjective/patient-reported outcomes are collected to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the potential of orofacial myofunctional therapy as a treatment for OSA.

Multi-center, 6-month, randomized, and controlled trial to compare the effects of Myo Munchee therapy and Oral Motor Therapy (OMT) in pediatric patients (aged 3-5 years) to treat maxillary deficiency and orofacial myofunctional dysfunction (OMD).

Oral myofunctional disorders (OMD) are a key, internationally acknowledged environmental factor causing dental and skeletal malocclusion. For the past 15 years, research regarding the efficacy of orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) to reduce OMD and to contribute to the treatment of malocclusions has been significantly increased. Despite the growing interest, high-quality evidence is still lacking because studies show a lack of standardized assessment techniques, outcome measures, and inclusion criteria, important methodological limitations such as small sample sizes, a variety of content and service delivery models and a lack of long-term follow-up. The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effects of structured OMT on anterior open bite (AOB) in children in early or intermediate mixed dentition. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does a structured OMT program affect orofacial myofunctional patterns, dental occlusion, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children with AOB? * Are there differences in treatment outcomes between children receiving a traditional OMT program, a reduced OMT program, and a sham treatment? Participants will undergo baseline and follow-up assessments of dental occlusion, orofacial myofunctional patterns, and OHRQoL. They will follow a structured OMT protocol tailored to their assigned group and participate in weekly therapy sessions over a defined intervention period.