08/27/2026
Dr. Wray pays attention to something a lot of dental exams skip: how the muscles of the mouth and face are actually behaving.
The tongue, lips, and jaw exert gentle pressure on the teeth all day long, and over years that pressure shapes how teeth sit and how a jaw develops. When those muscles fall into unhelpful patterns, such as habitual mouth breathing, a tongue that rests low instead of against the palate, or a swallow that pushes forward against the front teeth, the effects show up in the bite. In children, they can show up in how the face and airway grow.
These patterns are easy to miss and easy to mistake for something else. Dr. Wray has made a point of learning to recognize them. During exams she watches for signs like mouth breathing, an unusual swallow pattern, lingering thumb or pacifier habits, restless sleep or snoring in children, tooth wear from grinding, and difficulty keeping the lips closed at rest.
When she sees something worth addressing, she talks it through with you and connects you with a myofunctional therapist who can guide the retraining. Cleona Dental does not provide the therapy itself. What we provide is someone who notices, explains what she is seeing, and helps you find the right person.
It is the same instinct that runs through this whole practice. Look at the whole person, understand what is driving the problem, and take the time to explain it.
