Practical Screening 

No special equipment. No extra appointment time. This course provides a chairside screening protocol that integrates seamlessly into your routine hygiene and exam appointments—complete with a downloadable checklist.

Evidence-Based 

Backed by research showing 50-62% reductions in sleep-disordered breathing metrics, this 1-hour course is fully accredited through the New Brunswick Dental Society and earns you 1 CE credit upon completion.

From Recognition to Referral

Learn to identify mouth breathing, tongue thrust, TMJ patterns, and sleep-disordered breathing in your patients—then know exactly when and where to refer for comprehensive orofacial myofunctional therapy.

About the course

Orofacial myofunctional disorders affect breathing, swallowing, speech, and craniofacial development—yet most dental professionals never learned to screen for them in school. This course changes that. Over the past two decades, the evidence connecting oral rest posture, airway function, and systemic health has grown rapidly. Roughly 7 in 10 patients present with overlapping patterns—mouth breathing, tongue thrust, sleep-disordered breathing, clenching, and TMJ disorders—that you're likely seeing in your chair every single day. This 1-hour course equips you with the knowledge and tools to recognize these patterns, ask better questions, and integrate orofacial myofunctional screening into your daily practice. You'll learn the century-long history behind OMT, understand the six core functions affected by these disorders, and gain a systematic screening protocol backed by research and designed for immediate implementation. Whether you're seeing pediatric patients with narrow palates and open-mouth posture, adults with orthodontic relapse, or patients struggling with CPAP compliance, this course will help you connect the dots—and know when to collaborate with an orofacial myologist for comprehensive treatment. Presented in partnership with NaviSleep Respiratory Solutions Inc. | NBDS Accreditation #2025006004

Samantha Gagnon, RDH, OMT

Sam is a Registered Dental Hygienist and founder of AirwayCare OMT, with specialized training through the Functional Foundations Training Institute in pediatric and adult orofacial myofunctional therapy. Her practice focuses on airway, tongue function, and collaborative dental care, serving patients from age 3 to 70+. This course brings her clinical expertise to dental professionals across New Brunswick and beyond, providing practical tools for immediate integration into patient care.

Curriculum

5 Chapters · 6 Lessons

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Foundations of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      OMDs, Rest Posture, and Overlapping Patterns

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Tongue-Tie: Functional Ankyloglossia in Focus

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chairside Screening and Evidence-Based Practice

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Course Wrap-Up and Implementation Plan

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Course Knowledge Check