Referred by Your Dentist or Orthodontist? Myofunctional Therapy at Watagan Health Hub
Orofacial myofunctional therapy for dental and orthodontic patients — tongue tie, mouth breathing, orthodontic relapse, sleep apnoea and jaw function. Integrated with Watagan Dental. The only provider in Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Valley.
Myofunctional Therapy for Dental and Orthodontic Patients
If you have been referred by a dentist, orthodontist, oral surgeon, sleep physician or other health professional for orofacial myofunctional therapy — or if you are a dental or medical professional looking to refer a patient — this page explains what Watagan Health Hub offers and how to get started.
Watagan Health Hub is the only orofacial myofunctional therapy provider in the Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley region, and the only provider nationally to offer myofunctional therapy integrated with a dental practice. Our service launches mid-2026 — register your interest now to secure early access.
Who Is This Page For?
Children Referred for Tongue Tie and Orofacial Concerns
Children referred by dentists, orthodontists or paediatricians for tongue tie, mouth breathing, speech sound errors related to tongue posture, or orthodontic myofunctional concerns are our most common dental referral cohort.
For children undergoing tongue tie release, we recommend contacting us as early as possible so pre-operative therapy can begin promptly.
Adults
Adults with tongue tie, mouth breathing, bruxism, TMJ dysfunction, orthodontic relapse or sleep apnoea referred by their dentist, orthodontist or sleep physician can access myofunctional therapy at Watagan Health Hub.
No existing relationship with Watagan Dental is required — we accept referrals from all dental and medical practices.
Older Adults
Older adults referred for post-frenectomy rehabilitation, jaw function concerns or swallowing difficulties related to orofacial muscle function can access myofunctional therapy through our service. Contact us to discuss suitability.
Conditions Treated Through Dental Referral
- Tongue tie (ankyloglossia) — pre- and post-frenectomy myofunctional therapy
- Mouth breathing and open mouth posture
- Tongue thrust swallowing (reverse swallow)
- Low resting tongue posture
- Lip tie
- Narrow palate and dental crowding — myofunctional contribution
- Orthodontic relapse prevention
- Open bite, deep bite, overjet — myofunctional causes
- Bruxism (teeth grinding) — orofacial muscle component
- TMJ dysfunction and jaw pain
- Sleep apnoea and snoring — myofunctional adjunct therapy
- Lisps and articulation errors linked to tongue posture
- Post-frenectomy rehabilitation
What to Expect After a Dental Referral
Step 1 — Register your interest
Complete the form below or call us on (02) 4977 1222. Let us know who referred you and why. Our myofunctional therapy service launches mid-2026.
Step 2 — Initial assessment
Your myofunctional therapist conducts a comprehensive orofacial assessment covering tongue posture and function, lip posture, breathing patterns, swallowing pattern, jaw function and any relevant dental or orthodontic history.
Step 3 — Personalised exercise program
Based on the assessment, a targeted exercise program is developed to retrain the specific muscle patterns identified. You receive clear written instructions for daily home exercises.
Step 4 — Weekly sessions and home practice
Sessions occur weekly or fortnightly. Daily home practice between sessions is essential for results. Programs typically run three to six months, with progress reviews at regular intervals and coordination with your dental team throughout.
Why the Dental-Allied Health Integration Matters
The Watagan Dental — Watagan Health Hub Integration
The only orofacial myofunctional therapy provider in Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Valley — integrated with Watagan Dental at 644 Freemans Drive, Cooranbong
Watagan Health Hub is uniquely positioned in the Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley allied health landscape because of its direct integration with Watagan Dental, our sister practice at the same Cooranbong address. This integration exists because the founding clinician, Brayden Weber, is a dentist who understood that many of the oral health problems he saw every day in dental patients had an orofacial muscle function component that dentistry alone could not address.
Myofunctional therapy addresses the underlying muscle patterns that drive many dental and orthodontic concerns. The tongue exerts more continuous force on the teeth than any orthodontic appliance. If the tongue rests against the lower teeth instead of the palate, it contributes to narrow palate development, dental crowding, open bite and orthodontic relapse after treatment. If swallowing involves a tongue thrust pattern, it pushes against the front teeth with every swallow — thousands of times a day. Orthodontic treatment can move teeth, but it cannot change muscle behaviour. Myofunctional therapy does.
For patients of Watagan Dental and for patients referred by other dental and orthodontic practices across Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Valley, Watagan Health Hub provides the only dedicated orofacial myofunctional therapy service in the region. Read our posts on tongue tie and myofunctional therapy and mouth breathing in children for more on the clinical rationale.
Information for Referring Dentists and Orthodontists
Accepting referrals from dentists, orthodontists, tongue tie surgeons, ENTs, sleep physicians and paediatricians
For dentists and orthodontists considering referring patients to Watagan Health Hub, here is what to expect from the referral process. You can refer by calling (02) 4977 1222 or emailing info@wataganhealthhub.com.au. Include the patient's name, date of birth, reason for referral and any relevant clinical findings.
We provide written progress updates at clinically appropriate intervals and at discharge. For patients undergoing tongue tie release, we provide pre-operative clearance documentation and post-operative progress updates. We are experienced in working within the protocols of tongue tie surgeons and prefer to coordinate directly where possible to optimise outcomes for shared patients.
Getting Started After a Dental Referral
NDIS Funding for Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy delivered by a speech pathologist may be funded under the NDIS under Support Category 15 — Capacity Building, Improved Daily Living where it relates to communication or swallowing goals.
Eligibility depends on the individual participant's plan and stated goals. Contact us to discuss your situation or speak with your Support Coordinator.
Private and Health Insurance
Myofunctional therapy at Watagan Health Hub is available privately without a referral, though dental referrals are welcome and improve coordination of care.
Private health insurance may cover myofunctional therapy under speech pathology extras — check with your fund. Medicare rebates may be available where myofunctional therapy is delivered as part of a speech pathology EPC plan via GP referral. Register your interest on our myofunctional therapy page. You can also read our posts on tongue tie and myofunctional therapy and mouth breathing in children.
Adults Referred for Orthodontic or Sleep Concerns
Adults who have been referred for myofunctional therapy by a dentist, orthodontist or sleep physician can access our service privately. Register your interest using the form below and our team will be in touch to discuss your referral and arrange an initial assessment.
If you are also accessing a mandibular advancement splint or other sleep appliance, please mention this so we can coordinate with your treating dentist.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have been referred by my dentist — what happens next?
Register your interest using the form below or call us on (02) 4977 1222. When our myofunctional therapy service launches mid-2026, we will contact you to arrange an initial assessment.
Do I need myofunctional therapy before or after my tongue tie release?
Ideally both. Pre-operative myofunctional therapy prepares the tongue muscles and improves range of motion before the frenectomy. Post-operative therapy is essential to retrain movement patterns and prevent reattachment.
Will myofunctional therapy prevent orthodontic relapse?
Myofunctional therapy addresses the muscle habits — tongue posture, swallowing pattern, lip posture — that place forces on teeth and contribute to orthodontic relapse. Correcting these habits reduces the likelihood of teeth shifting after braces are removed.
Is Watagan Health Hub connected to Watagan Dental?
Yes. Watagan Health Hub is the allied health arm of Watagan Dental, located at 644 Freemans Drive, Cooranbong. We share a location, clinical philosophy and owner.
Can you liaise directly with my dentist or orthodontist?
Yes. With your permission, we communicate directly with your referring dentist, orthodontist or sleep physician to provide clinical updates and coordinate care.
Register Your Interest
Tell us who referred you and why. We will contact you when myofunctional therapy appointments become available mid-2026. 644 Freemans Drive, Cooranbong NSW 2265.
Register Your Interest
