Clenching and how to address it

Hi Sandra! How have you been? I have a quick question.  I went to lunch with an orthodontist here in town and he was asking me if I do much work with clenching. I said it is definitely something that can be addressed with myofunctional therapy. I know we talked briefly about this in the course. I just wanted to make sure I’m on the right track so I can further answer his questions next time I see him. I’m thinking that tx would focus on relaxation techniques, identifying WHEN the clenching is occurring, and really focusing on phase 3 from the myo manual once they can demonstrate good resting postures (lips together, teeth NOT touching, tongue to spot). Am I on the right track? But how will this integrate into night behaviors? (That’s what the orthodontist wanted to know) I know you’re the busiest woman on the planet, but I’d love to hear from you if you get a chance. Take care!

Hi, Regarding clenching (as with TMD issues, etc.), we can’t claim to help it.  We can explain that in maximizing the lingual abilities and training the correct resting postures of the tongue, lips and mandible.

It frequently helps to reduce or eliminate the tendency to clench.  We don’t want the referral to think we are “clencher” fixers.  It is merely one of the improved symptoms that sometimes occur.  Your idea to incorporate the emphasis later in the program is correct.  Orthodontists, years ago, expressed concern about the carryover/habituation of treatment and that is likely where his question arose regarding night time habituation.  I tell patients and referrals that the treatment is given in a sensible order and although we have specific activities for habituation and subconscious training, there is no way to guarantee that any particular patient will make it part of his/her subconscious mind.  Many of the exercises are directed toward getting the patient to start habituating early in the program and involve the family, etc.  We also have the auto suggestion flash drive in addition to night time chart and more.  These were created within the Myo Manual program to address this exact concern of habituation.      I hope this will help clarify in your mind how best and most ethically to stay within our scope of practice while presenting answers to the “clenching” problem seen in some of our patients.  My best, Sandra