Is Myofunctional therapy the missing link in your overall health?
This 1 min Pre-screener is your first step:
About me
My name is Juli (Amy) Keating. I am a wife, and mother of four. My family’s missed health challenges became the driving force behind my journey into Myofunctional Therapy. As a parent and dental hygienist, I often saw mouth breathing, teeth grinding, sleep-disordered breathing, and crowded teeth, yet I didn’t realize these symptoms could be connected by underlying myofunctional disorders.
Determined to learn more, I pursued specialized training in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy and founded Spero Myofunctional Therapy LLC. Today, I am passionate about helping individuals and families identify contributing factors, improve function, and support long-term health and wellness.
About Spero
What’s in a word?
What’s in a word?
What’s in a word?
“Spero” is the Latin word for “hope,” a concept that is at the heart of everything I do. Inspired by the phrase Dum Spiro, Spero—“While I breathe, I hope”—I believe that every individual deserves hope for a healthier future. Through education, encouragement, and personalized care, I strive to help my clients move toward improved function,
“Spero” is the Latin word for “hope,” a concept that is at the heart of everything I do. Inspired by the phrase Dum Spiro, Spero—“While I breathe, I hope”—I believe that every individual deserves hope for a healthier future. Through education, encouragement, and personalized care, I strive to help my clients move toward improved function, wellness, and a greater sense of confidence in their health journey.
Expertise
What’s in a word?
What’s in a word?
I graduated from Wharton County Junior College’s Dental Hygiene Program in 2001 and began my career in both general and pediatric dentistry. My first formal training in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy was through the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM), and I later completed Sarah K. Hornsby’s MyoMentor Program.
My approa
I graduated from Wharton County Junior College’s Dental Hygiene Program in 2001 and began my career in both general and pediatric dentistry. My first formal training in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy was through the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM), and I later completed Sarah K. Hornsby’s MyoMentor Program.
My approach to myofunctional therapy is comprehensive and well-rounded, shaped by training from both a Speech-Language Pathologist and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist (OMT), as well as a Registered Dental Hygienist and OMT. This diverse educational foundation allows me to view oral function from multiple perspectives and collaborate effectively with a variety of healthcare professionals.
I have completed hundreds of hours of continuing education in dentistry, airway health, and orofacial myofunctional therapy, and I remain committed to ongoing learning. To further expand my knowledge, I have observed and learned from leaders in holistic, functional, and airway-focused care, including tongue-tie release providers, airway dentists, ENTs, integrative medicine physicians, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and chiropractors.
My goal is to provide evidence-informed, collaborative care that helps clients improve oral function, breathing, sleep, and overall well-being.
Approach
Appointments
Appointments
It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child—and I believe it takes a village of healthcare providers to support optimal wellness. I strive to see each client as a whole person, addressing dysfunctional habits while collaborating with and referring to trusted specialists when needed. This team-based approach helps provide com
It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child—and I believe it takes a village of healthcare providers to support optimal wellness. I strive to see each client as a whole person, addressing dysfunctional habits while collaborating with and referring to trusted specialists when needed. This team-based approach helps provide comprehensive care and supports the best possible outcomes for long-term health and quality of life.
Appointments
Appointments
Appointments
Your first appointment is a comprehensive in-person evaluation at Haven Chiropractic, designed to assess your unique needs and goals. Based on the findings, a personalized therapy program will be created to support your progress. Ongoing therapy sessions are conducted through secure Telehealth video conferencing, allowing you to receive h
Your first appointment is a comprehensive in-person evaluation at Haven Chiropractic, designed to assess your unique needs and goals. Based on the findings, a personalized therapy program will be created to support your progress. Ongoing therapy sessions are conducted through secure Telehealth video conferencing, allowing you to receive high-quality care conveniently from the comfort of your home or office.
Common Myofunctional Disorders and symptoms
Bruxism
High vaulted palate
Malloclusion
Bruxism is the clenching or grinding of the teeth. While it is often associated with stress, it can also be linked to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) conditions such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS). Bruxism does not always cause pain or noticeable symptoms, but it can lead to excessive wear of the teeth over time. Your dental care team can often identify signs of bruxism by observing tooth wear that exceeds what would typically be expected with normal aging.
Malloclusion
High vaulted palate
Malloclusion
Malocclusion (crooked teeth) can develop for many reasons, including narrow palates, improper tongue posture, low tongue tone, prolonged oral habits, and dysfunctional swallowing patterns. The tongue serves as a natural support for the upper dental arch and helps influence the development of the palate and surrounding structures. For this reason, addressing underlying orofacial myofunctional disorders is about much more than aesthetics—it is about promoting healthy oral function, facial development, breathing, and long-term wellness.
High vaulted palate
High vaulted palate
Gum disease and cavities
A narrow palate may result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, including improper tongue posture, childhood illnesses, prolonged oral habits, and soft diets. Since the palate forms the base of the nasal cavity, a narrow upper jaw is often associated with a narrower nasal airway. Healthy oral and facial development is about more than appearance—it can play an important role in breathing, sleep, and overall well-being.
Gum disease and cavities
Gum disease and cavities
Gum disease and cavities
While poor oral hygiene can contribute to gingivitis and cavities, mouth breathing is another commonly overlooked factor. Breathing through the nose helps keep the mouth moist and allows saliva to do its important job of protecting the teeth and gums. When the mouth becomes dry, the risk of tooth decay, gum inflammation, and other oral health concerns may increase.
Messy eating
Gum disease and cavities
Messy eating
Orofacial myofunctional disorders can affect how food is chewed, moved, and swallowed. Individuals may overfill their cheeks with food, chew with their mouth open, or have difficulty managing food during meals. These challenges can make eating less efficient and may increase the risk of choking or swallowing difficulties.
Drooling
Gum disease and cavities
Messy eating
Restricted tongue movement can make it more difficult to manage saliva effectively. As a result, drooling beyond the age of 2, saliva pooling at the corners of the mouth, or occasional spitting while speaking may be observed. These signs can indicate underlying oral function challenges that may benefit from further evaluation.
Tongue Ties
Noxious oral habits
Noxious oral habits
A tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, is a condition present at birth in which the tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth restricts normal tongue movement. Everyone has a lingual frenulum, but when it is unusually restrictive, it can interfere with important functions such as speaking, chewing, eating, and swallowing.
A restricted tongue may also contribute to dental crowding, poor tongue posture, muscle tension in the neck and shoulders, and, in some cases, breathing or airway concerns. Because the tongue plays a critical role in oral function and development, both structure and function should be considered when evaluating a possible tongue tie.
Noxious oral habits
Noxious oral habits
Noxious oral habits
Noxious oral habits are repetitive behaviors that may interfere with healthy oral and facial development. While often common in childhood, prolonged habits can contribute to issues such as dental misalignment, altered jaw growth, and dysfunctional oral patterns. Examples include pacifier use beyond age 2, thumb or finger sucking, nail biting, lip biting, and other habits involving the mouth and surrounding structures.
Sleep Apnea
Noxious oral habits
Tongue thrusts
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), including Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS), can affect both children and adults. Common signs may include pauses in breathing during sleep, snoring, teeth grinding, frequent nighttime urination, restless legs, restless sleep, and dry mouth.
If left untreated, sleep-disordered breathing may contribute to daytime fatigue, hyperactivity, attention and behavioral concerns, mood changes, bedwetting, and other health issues. Because quality sleep is essential for overall health and development, identifying and addressing airway concerns can be an important part of a comprehensive care plan.
Tongue thrusts
Mouth breathing
Tongue thrusts
A tongue thrust occurs when the tongue pushes against or between the teeth during swallowing, speaking, or while at rest. Common contributing factors include thumb or finger sucking, tongue-tie restrictions, low tongue tone, and other oral habits.
Tongue thrust patterns can negatively affect speech, swallowing, dental alignment, and overall oral health. Early identification and appropriate intervention may help support more efficient oral function and long-term stability.
Ortho relapse
Mouth breathing
Mouth breathing
Orthodontic relapse refers to the gradual shifting of teeth after orthodontic treatment has been completed. While several factors can contribute to relapse, untreated orofacial myofunctional disorders may play a role by creating forces that influence tooth position over time even within permanent retainers.
Relapse can lead to the need for additional orthodontic treatment and increased financial investment. Addressing both tooth alignment and oral function may help support more stable long-term results.
Mouth breathing
Mouth breathing
Mouth breathing
Mouth breathing is not always obvious, but it can impact more than just the mouth. Chronic mouth breathing bypasses many of the benefits of nasal breathing, including:
• Natural filtration and conditioning of the air entering the lungs
• Production of nasal nitric oxide, which supports healthy breathing
• Optimal oral and facial development
• Proper tongue posture and oral function
Healthy nasal breathing plays an important role in oral health, sleep quality, and overall wellness.
Affiliations/Training
