Awareness marks the foundation for practitioners working within the orofacial myofunctional therapy space. From the ability to identify key features of orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs), to understanding practice constraints from state and national licensure and recognizing the roles of different medical, dental, and allied health professionals who incorporate orofacial myofunctional therapy into their clinical practice, awareness is the gateway to comprehensive and ethical patient care.

Education for proficiency within orofacial myofunctional therapy is lifelong secondary to the numerous and complex interactions between the craniofacial respiratory complex and the rest of the body, and their contributions to whole body health. As a result, practitioners of OMT must go beyond a minimum level of training to stay current in evidence-based practices, while managing patients from a place that is commensurate with individual professional levels of learning and a firm base of existing clinical experience. For newly trained practitioners in OMT, a period of mentoring is critical in order to ensure expert guidance in clinical decision-making skills. At the forefront of education is an ongoing understanding and adherence to our ethical obligations as healthcare professionals, and the need to stay abreast of current, past, and emerging clinical research.

Education for proficiency within orofacial myofunctional therapy is lifelong secondary to the numerous and complex interactions between the craniofacial respiratory complex and the rest of the body, and their contributions to whole body health. As a result, practitioners of OMT must go beyond a minimum level of training to stay current in evidence-based practices, while managing patients from a place that is commensurate with individual professional levels of learning and a firm base of existing clinical experience. For newly trained practitioners in OMT, a period of mentoring is critical in order to ensure expert guidance in clinical decision-making skills. At the forefront of education is an ongoing understanding and adherence to our ethical obligations as healthcare professionals, and the need to stay abreast of current, past, and emerging clinical research.

Anatomy & physiology are driving forces within orofacial myofunctional therapy and serve to explain the interactions between the systems within the craniofacial respiratory complex and the rest of the mind and body within the context of human growth, development, and function. From these guiding principles, practitioners provide assessment and treatment that is based upon the individual needs of their patients to effectively move them along a continuum of care that improves function and overall quality of life.

Interdisciplinary management of orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) is essential to effective patient care and optimal long-term outcomes. It requires an understanding of the roles of various disciplines who take part in the management of OMDs, and the willingness to uncover the individual training and expertise of each. It is vital for practitioners of orofacial myofunctional therapy to reach out and build connections within their local communities to create interdisciplinary teams that are capable of addressing the comprehensive needs of individuals with OMDs. Understanding why, when, and how to refer patients to other disciplines is paramount to the success of OMT.