Holistic Dentistry in Niceville, FL

“I have suffered from TMJ pain, headaches and neck pain for years. I have tried countless therapies to attempt to get some relief. I tried massage therapy, chiropractic adjustments, neurology consults, and even completed orthodontic treatment. All just to find them to be a temporary Band-Aid that only masked the pain short-term. After finding no real success, I figured my pain must just be a side effect of getting older, daily life, stress, and my career field. I dealt with this pain for years until it got to the point to wear my TMJ got so bad that my jaw and ears hurt constantly, and it was uncomfortable to eat and even talk. Then I remembered the only treatment I had not tried for my TMJ issues that my dentist had suggested to me prior to orthodontic treatments was splint therapy. I initially went with the orthodontics treatment to line up my bite because it would also straighten my smile at the same time. I thought splint therapy would not be a permanent fix and really did not like the thought of having to wear those devices. However, once I got to the point of this much pain, I was willing to try anything! That is when my dentist introduced me to Lee and the new option of Myofunctional Therapy instead of splinting, and my life has been forever changed!

Lee explained the treatment to me and did a full assessment of my oral capabilities. She explained to me issues that I had never even noticed before, I was blown away! She discovered that I was slightly tongue tied, had tongue thrust, mouth breathed, swallowed air, and had improper muscle movements during chewing activities. She explained to me how these conditions could be causing added stress to my jaw and neck which could be leading to the increased areas of pain I had been experiencing for years.

I am so thankful that I met Lee, and highly recommend her to everyone I can. She is an amazing person and such a joy to work with! Her passion for her career field and the success of her patients is admirable. She developed a treatment plan specifically for my needs and was there for me every step of the way. Since I have completed my treatment with Lee, I can honestly say I now have more pain free days than ever before! I no longer push my teeth with my tongue, instead my tongue is resting comfortably in the proper position on my upper palate. I am also more aware of my breathing and swallowing patterns and correct them instantly. I will never forget these life changing habits she taught me. I am so grateful for Lee and her dedication to helping others with this therapy.

At age 6, my son Kai began having issues with constantly clicking, clearing his throat, and making random loud noises. I was concerned that there was a medical reason for this and sought out advice. The doctors determined that he had allergies and mild asthma. He went through 4 years of treatment for allergies – including inhalers, oral medications, and immunotherapy. None of these treatments seemed to help. We searched for more answers and he was treated for acid reflux. This was the first option that made any difference, but as soon as he discontinued the medication, the clicking and throat clearing returned. We looked into having him tested for ADHD and Tourette’s.

Around that same time, we moved to Florida where I met Lee Rountree, a myofunctional therapist. Through our discussions about Kai’s issues and treatment, she explained how important the simple function of breathing was to our health and any dysfunction with breathing can affect the entire body. He did not sleep very well, sometimes snoring and moving around the bed. Lee evaluated Kai and created a plan to help improve his breathing by strengthening his tongue and lips for proper positioning and posture. She was very creative and made the exercises fun. My son was always excited to show her how much he had improved through the week. As the exercises progressed, we noticed that he stopped making the constant clicking, throat clearing, and random noises. I would peek in on him while he was asleep and did not find him snoring anymore. Kai is now a different child, rested and much more relaxed. Lee made a huge impact in our lives, when I thought there was no hope. I can’t thank her enough!

Myofunctional therapy, “Mouth Therapy”? What in the world kind of new therapy or new technique are these doctors trying to swindle us into? Do we really need it or is it a waste of my time and money?

As a working mother of two and a wife I didn’t think we could handle another bill, another added appointment into our already busy schedules…

But when I tell you I am so grateful and thankful that I not only trusted the process and trusted myself and more importantly Lee to do this for my daughter, it has been an amazing and helpful experience for us.

I didn’t realize how mouth breathing and a tongue thrust could have a negative impact on my daughter’s everyday life. This has saved us in more ways than one.

Because of Lee’s thorough knowledge of myofunctional therapy and her exceptional explanation of the entire process and at every appointment, my daughter has been able to breathe, eat, drink, and sleep better.

Lee makes sure you are comfortable and understand everything from the exercises and what it’s doing to make such a difference. I know if I ever needed anything Lee would always be there willing to help.

Do it, do the therapy and entrust in Lee to provide for either you or someone in your family. This therapy has helped us tremendously.

Lee is such a wonderful, caring, and knowledgeable therapist. My teenage son has completed 10 sessions of Myofunctional therapy with her and has made so much progress. She has always allowed me, the parent to be included in the therapy sessions, so I can see what he needs to be doing at home in between visits. After meeting her on that very first visit, I felt as though I had known her my entire life. She really knows how to put people at ease and treats them like family. I highly recommend Lee!

I have suffered with TMJ syndrome and myofascial pain for over 25 years. Nothing has really worked to alleviate it, except ice and use of an occlusal guard to lessen the symptoms and protect hard tissue breakdown and tooth chipping. When I was offered a new treatment method from my dental hygienist, Lee, at Mid-bay dental, I was excited and curious! Once a week for several months, she trained me on ALL things related to chewing, tongue positioning, swallowing, exercises for the mouth, and facial muscles. And, believe it or not, breathing properly. It is ALL connected! One has to do the work to make it work. With Lee’s professional training and super friendly nature, she prescribed exercises each week, allowing me to form new habits, which could be difficult. But she made the exercises fun and easy. With time and practice, I have seen improvement in sleeping, chewing, swallowing, and pain level. Although it was a long process, I now have habits for a lifetime and can’t thank Lee enough. She was (and is) awesome!

As a long-time patient, I have always been impressed with Dr. Chase and her caring staff. The team has always been extremely helpful and ever understanding of my fears of the dentist. During one of my visits, I was explaining some of the issues I was having to Dr. Chase and she recommended that I may be a good candidate for myofunctional therapy. I was initially apprehensive but after a few therapy sessions I realized that the treatment was beginning to relieve my issues. I was lucky enough to work with Lee during my sessions and she was always professional and supportive. She always took time to hear my symptoms and explain my goals moving forward after every session. Her passion for helping those with Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders is evident and her sweet nature makes each session a pleasure.