A case study on myofunctional therapy and malocclusions created by oral habits

Relevance to Practice

CJDH Between the Lines is an interview series highlighting current scientific research of relevance to the dental hygiene profession. It explores how research findings impact dental hygiene care and supports evidence-informed practice.

According to the Entry-to-Practice Canadian Competencies for Dental Hygienists, “dental hygienists [must be] committed to excellence in practice through critical thinking, continuous learning, and application of evidence-informed decision making. The integration of evidence-informed practice optimizes oral health care”.¹ This learning activity will appeal to dental hygienists interested in learning more about myofunctional therapy, malocclusions, and interdisciplinary approaches to care. Early myofunctional intervention is a key factor in promoting correct craniofacial growth and development. Dental hygienists with learning goals related to risk assessment and management, orofacial myofunctional therapy, oral habits, malocclusion and/or interdisciplinary care will benefit from participating in this activity.

Members are encouraged to assess gaps in current knowledge and evidence, transfer knowledge to others, and explore complex issues from different points of view. This new activity also encourages critical thinking and consumption of scientific research, and provides access to reliable sources of information.

¹Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada. Entry-to-practice Canadian competencies for dental hygienists. Ottawa (ON): FDHRC; 2021. Available from: www.fdhrc.ca/sites/files/EPCCoDH_FDHRC_November_2021.pdf

Format for Learning

The recorded interview is available in English with French closed captioning. The research article is available in English and French.

The interview is approximately 15 minutes in length; access to the accompanying research article is provided along with a set of self-reflection questions. The learning is self-directed and the article can be downloaded and printed. The self-reflection questions must be completed prior to receiving a certificate of completion. It is expected that viewing the recording, reading the article, and answering the questions will take you 2 hours.

A certificate of completion will be provided. After watching the video, reading the article, answering the questions, and responding to a feedback survey, you can access a certificate of completion from your online CDHA profile.

Speakers

Seema Virji, BSc, RDH, COM^®

Seema Virji graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science, specializing in dental hygiene. She has her local anesthetic certification from the University of Alberta and her dental hygiene prescriber rights.

Seema currently owns and operates an independent orofacial myofunctional therapy clinic whose sole purpose is to treat myofunctional disorders. It was one of Edmonton's and Canada's first myofunctional therapy clinics owned and operated by a dental hygienist. Seema is a certified orofacial myologist with the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM). She was the fifth dental hygienist to certify in Canada. Seema is currently serving as vice president of the IAOM and is the co-chair of the IAOM’s mentoring committee.

Salme Lavigne, PhD, RDH

Salme Lavigne was appointed scientific editor of the Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene, effective December 1, 2015. She holds a diploma in dental hygiene from the University of Toronto, a bachelor’s degree in biomedical anthropology from Lakehead University, a master’s degree in dental hygiene education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and a doctorate in community health sciences from the University of Manitoba. Salme was the founding director of the dental hygiene program at Confederation College, Thunder Bay, and served as director of the School of Dental Hygiene, University of Manitoba, for 13 years where she developed and initiated the first BScDH program at that institution. An internationally recognized researcher and educator, Salme has received Alumni of Distinction awards from the University of Toronto and the UMKC School of Dentistry, and a Life Membership Award from the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association.