You’ll notice that on this site, I often mention how quickly the field of myofunctional therapy is growing. I keep seeing evidence of this in the number of patients, doctors, and hygienists who are contacting me. There’s been a huge surge of interest in the last couple of years.
But I’ve recently seen some of the most compelling evidence yet.
My latest myofunctional therapy program sold out, just like the last three, but that’s not what got me thinking. I noticed that over 70% of the students on this program are hygienists who will be practicing myofunctional therapy in a dental practice. In most cases, the dentist that owns the practice is putting them through the program.
This is a huge change from the way things used to be. When I first started working as a myofunctional therapist, it was almost unheard of for a dentist to be training hygienists as myofunctional therapists. The vast majority of students were hygienists looking for a career change or for better ways to help their patients.
In recent years however, the percentages have begun to change. A couple of years ago, I would occasionally have a dentist training a hygienist through my program. Now it’s increasingly looking like most of my future students will be practicing in a dental office.
To me, that’s an undeniable sign that’s the dental field is not only recognizing but embracing myofunctional therapy. This of course means that the field is becoming increasingly mainstream.
This was also recently driven home for me by the number of researchers, doctors and dentists all working to further the field. I was thrilled to see the enthusiasm and professionalism displayed by hundreds of attendees at the two conferences I attended in September.
I was at the Orthotropics Symposium in London and at the AAMS (Academy of applied myofunctional sciences) Congress in Rome. It quickly became clear that there are so many research projects being done, textbooks being written, and protocols being finalized at the moment. I believe that these advances, along with the dramatically increased awareness of myofunctional therapy are going to drive the field until it’s as commonplace and mainstream as dentistry or orthodontics.
All of which makes me very happy!
Myofunctional therapy can help so many patients, and address an amazing number of health concerns. I know that the field and every single one of us practicing in it can make an enormous difference. I see it on a daily basis in my practice, and I often hear it from the graduates of my programs.
If you’d like to find out more about myofunctional therapy, and how it can be integrated into a dental practice, or how it could enhance or even change your hygiene career, then please feel free to reach out. I’ll be happy to have a chat.