Oral Myofunctional Therapy
in Spokane, Washington

Improve your health with Oral Myofunctional Therapy (OMT)—a holistic approach to better breathing, chewing, swallowing, and speaking.

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We’re excited to offer OMT as part of our services, helping to retrain your muscles for improved oral function and overall well-being.

(509) 325-2051

What is Oral Myofunctional Therapy?

Oral Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a treatment that focuses on strengthening and re-educating the facial, tongue, and throat muscles. It’s designed to improve everyday functions like breathing, chewing, swallowing, and speaking by correcting muscle imbalances. Through a personalized program, we help you build awareness and strength in these areas, leading to better oral health.

New Patient Specials!

We want your visits to be efficient and gentle. The Holistic Dental Center is dedicated to being your dentist in Spokane.

Offers Expire: 05/24/2025

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Emergency
Exam

Includes emergency exam, consultation and necessary X-rays.

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Limited time offer.
New patients only.

Meet Your Spokane Holistic Dentists

Dr. Craig B. Simmons

As a member of the Holistic Dental Association and a Board-certified Biological Dentist with the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine, Dr. Simmons continues to attend continuing education classes, ensuring that his patients receive the most comprehensive and advanced dental care.

Dr. Wendy Bentler

Dr. Wendy Bentler is committed to providing the best treatment for each patient. She is very excited to work in a holistic practice and focus on how dental treatment can affect total body health. In her free time, she practices Ashtanga Yoga and, with her husband Andrew, enjoys watching movies and traveling.

Who Can Benefit from OMT?

OMT can be helpful for both adults and children, addressing a variety of issues related to muscle function and oral health.

For Adults:

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) If you’re experiencing headaches, jaw pain, or difficulty chewing due to muscle strain, OMT can help. By strengthening muscles and relieving tension, we can reduce pain and improve jaw function.
Sleep Disorders, Snoring, and Sleep Apnea OMT can help improve the airway by strengthening the muscles involved in breathing and promoting nasal breathing. This can reduce snoring and the severity of sleep apnea, leading to better sleep quality.
Teeth Clenching and Grinding Clenching and grinding often happen because of stress or muscle tension, and OMT can help by raising awareness of these habits. By learning proper tongue and jaw positions, OMT addresses the root causes, helping to reduce wear on your teeth.
Other Conditions OMT can also help with issues like relapsing orthodontics, swallowing difficulties, open mouth posture, mouth breathing, tongue ties, and more.

For Children (Ages 4+):

Snoring, Mouth Breathing, and Grinding: Children who breathe through their mouth or grind their teeth during sleep may be at risk for dry mouth, cavities, and other dental issues. OMT helps encourage nasal breathing, improve sleep, and support healthy jaw growth.
Thumb or Finger Sucking: Though many children stop on their own, thumb sucking can affect teeth alignment and jaw growth. OMT can help break the habit and prevent further oral health issues.
Malocclusion (Teeth Misalignment): Habits like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting can push teeth out of place, leading to alignment issues like open bite or cross bite. OMT helps correct these habits and supports proper growth patterns for the jaw and teeth.
Speech Issues OMT works alongside speech therapists to improve speech clarity by strengthening muscles that support speech.
Tongue Ties A tongue tie can limit tongue movement, making it difficult to breathe, chew, swallow, and speak properly. OMT helps improve tongue strength and mobility, and in some cases, a tongue tie release may be recommended.

What Does OMT Treatment Involve?

Think of OMT like physical therapy for the muscles of your face, tongue, and jaw. Treatment involves specific exercises designed to help retrain these muscles to work better for breathing, chewing, and swallowing. Since it takes time and practice to develop new muscle patterns, treatment generally lasts from 6 months to a year.

A critical part of OMT is learning proper breathing techniques. Correct breathing improves oxygen flow, reduces stress, and supports overall muscle function, making the exercises more effective.

OMT is often part of a broader treatment plan. We may recommend working with other specialists, such as orthodontists, speech pathologists, or sleep medicine doctors, to get the best results.

How Do I Get Started?

It’s easy to begin your OMT journey. Start with a free 20-minute consultation, where we’ll assess whether OMT is a good fit for you and answer any questions you have.

If you decide to proceed, we’ll schedule a 90-minute intake exam. During this appointment, we’ll take a detailed medical history, capture photos and videos, and discuss your treatment options.

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Do You Accept Insurance?

Yes, we accept Delta Dental Premier and PPO. We also accept most insurances out-of-network. Our office also offers affordable financing through CareCredit to patients who are uninsured or need additional help paying for their dental care. No matter your budgetary needs, The Holistic Dental Center is here to provide expert care for overall oral and physical wellness.