06/06/2026
“The ship has sailed.”
Not because every dentist, orthodontist, oral surgeon, or TMJ provider agrees on the role of myofunctional therapy.
Not because every question has been answered.
But because we’re no longer asking whether oral function matters.
We now know that how we breathe, swallow, rest our tongue, use our facial muscles, and develop our jaws influences oral health outcomes.
The discussion has shifted.
The question isn’t whether function affects orthodontics, TMJ concerns, airway health, stability of treatment, or oral development.
The question is how much it affects them, when it matters most, and how we can better integrate function into patient care.
Patients are asking these questions.
Research continues to grow.
Interdisciplinary collaboration is increasing.
The ship has sailed on the idea that teeth exist in isolation from the muscles, habits, and function surrounding them.
The future of oral health isn’t about choosing between structure and function.
It’s about understanding that they work together.
