Case Studies
Case Study 1.0 — Tongue Thrust, Open Bite & Lip Posture (Age 9)
At baseline, this 9-year-old patient presented with four co-occurring orofacial myofunctional concerns: severe anterior tongue thrust with an incorrect swallowing pattern, a tongue-between-teeth resting posture, bimaxillary protrusion, and an intermittent open lips resting posture. These conditions are frequently found together — the tongue's improper resting and swallowing position creates outward pressure on the teeth while also contributing to the inability to maintain closed lips at rest.
Over 16 months and 30 therapy sessions of Oral Rest Posture Therapy, the patient showed marked improvement across all presenting concerns. Dental photos taken at the 16-month mark show a significantly more aligned bite with reduced protrusion. Equally notable is the improvement in lip posture — where baseline photos show consistently parted lips at rest, post-treatment photos show the lips resting comfortably closed, which is the correct resting position and a strong indicator of lasting myofunctional change.
Case Study 2.0 — Anterior Tongue Resting Posture & Swallowing (Age 8)
This patient began therapy at age 8 with an incorrect anterior tongue resting posture and atypical swallowing pattern. Both are common childhood presentations that, left untreated, can contribute to open bite, dental misalignment, and speech difficulties as permanent teeth erupt.
After 21 therapy sessions over 9 months, the patient was approaching maintenance status — meaning the correct tongue posture and swallowing mechanics had become largely habitual. Photos at the 12-month mark confirmed full maintenance, with the bite showing clear closure where an open bite had previously been visible. Follow-up documentation at 2 years and 4 months shows the results held — a strong testament to the lasting nature of myofunctional therapy when habits are properly retrained, not just temporarily corrected.
Case Study — Thumb Sucking Habit Elimination (Ages 3, 6 & 9)
Prolonged thumb sucking is one of the most common causes of anterior open bite in children. This case study documents outcomes across three patients at different ages, demonstrating that effective intervention is possible across a wide developmental window.
6-year-old patient: Baseline photos show a noticeable open bite from sustained thumb sucking. By 2 months into therapy, early improvement was visible. At 16 months, the open bite had resolved significantly as the teeth were allowed to erupt into proper alignment following habit elimination.
3-year-old patient: This patient stopped the thumb sucking habit voluntarily during the course of therapy — a notable outcome that reflects the behavioral and motivational component of treatment. By 6 months, the early-stage open bite visible at baseline had begun to self-correct as tooth eruption continued without the disruptive pressure of the habit.
9-year-old patient: Even at an older age, with more established dental development, meaningful improvement was documented within just 2 months of therapy — underlining that it is not too late to intervene once a child is in mixed or permanent dentition.
Case Study — Open Lips Resting Posture (Ages 10 & 15)
Lip incompetence — the inability to comfortably maintain the lips closed at rest — is a frequently overlooked sign of an underlying orofacial myofunctional disorder. It often accompanies mouth breathing, low tongue posture, and forward head positioning. This case study follows two patients, one younger and one adolescent, through one year of therapy.
10-year-old patient: Baseline photos show visibly parted lips at rest, with the teeth partially visible through the gap and signs of strain in the chin and lower lip musculature. After one year of therapy, the patient's lips rest comfortably together without muscular effort — a sign that the underlying muscle tone and resting posture have been successfully retrained.
15-year-old patient: The teenage patient presented with a similar pattern: chronically open lip posture at rest with visible tension in the perioral muscles. At baseline the lips were parted and the lower lip appeared everted. After one year of therapy, the lips close naturally and the lower facial profile appears notably more balanced and relaxed.
Both cases illustrate that lip incompetence is not simply an aesthetic concern — it reflects the functional state of the orofacial musculature, and it responds well to targeted myofunctional therapy regardless of the patient's age.