Orofacial Myology – International Perspectives Second Edition

  • M. L. Hanson &
  • R. M. Mason
. Charles C. Thomas Publisher, Ltd,. Springfield, Illinois. USA price $99.95, pp476 ISBN 0398073589 | ISBN: 0-398-07358-9

This book is an attempt to justify orofacial myology as a specialist area rather than an area associated with dentistry, orthodontics or speech and language therapy. The subject is one that has come to the fore over the years and the interest then wanes.

The book is divided into 24 chapters, the first 15 describe the basis of orofacial myology and the last 9 chapters are contributions from around the world with the final chapter a justification for the orofacial myologist being a specialist who is worthy of insurance funding.

The first chapters look at the nature of myofunctional disorders and their prevalence showing that the incidence decreases with age and suggest that if the action of the tongue is normalised then the teeth will remain in their correct position. There is not one illustration in the book to show that teeth in their incorrect position have been corrected by the correction of the tongue thrust although the authors imply that without myofunctional therapy the orthodontic result will not be stable. One wonders which came first, the chicken or the egg. The cooperation between various branches of medicine and dentistry is emphasised

The following chapters cover the anatomy and physiology of the facial tissues with a useful chapter on speech for the dentist. Chapters follow this on the dentition and orthodontics, with chapter 11 dealing with the evaluation of structures and functions. There is no indication as to how a tongue thrust is evaluated and to answer the question as to whether the tongue thrust is doing any harm to the dentition we are told is speculative.

The chapter on treatment indicates how the author treats tongue thrusts for his patients and this is followed by the treatment of other habits. Many of those habits treated are prevalent in the younger age group but decrease spontaneously with age. Bruxism is included although the part the myologist can play in the treatment of this problem, unless dentally qualified, is limited.

The last chapters are from people around the world again emphasising the importance of the subject in other countries in an attempt to gain support for the establishment of the speciality of orofacial myology.

The quality of the book leaves much to be desired. The paper is of poor quality, which gives poor photographic reproduction and although the text has been spell checked, it has not been checked for accuracy, e.g. page 122 indicates that stress damages the pulpits!