Jillian Watkins
Dental Therapist with Oral Facial Myofunctional Training.
About Jillian
I qualified as a Dental Hygienist and Therapist at King’s College London and have spent the majority of my career working within NHS dentistry. My early clinical experience included several years as an Oral Hygienist in hospital settings, supporting patients undergoing head and neck cancer treatment as well as children receiving orthodontic care. Working closely with patients during these formative years deepened my interest in how breathing patterns and muscle function influence not only oral health, but also conditions such as asthma, sleep apnoea, and overall wellbeing.
This led me to take the Buteyko Instructor course with Patrick McKeown in London (2019) (and further training in Integrated Breathing Therapy training with Dr. Rosalba Courtney in 2020).
In 2019 I attended a post-graduate course with the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (AOMT) in London and became a fully certified Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist. I began to realise that years of poor muscle and tongue function had negatively influenced my own health and I was also able to identify and solve issues in my children's oral health. I undertook further training with Dr Zaghi at The Breathe Institute (2020) in tongue tie assessment. I completed training in Myobrace and Myo Munchee protocols.
I have an 18-month post-graduate diploma in TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) Therapy and I am now a qualified manual therapist. I am also trained in scar therapy. I took further Myofunctional training with the AOMT. I trained in Dental Acupuncture with the British Dental Acupuncture Society .
My learning and passion are on-going. I have taken Vocal Health Education training in manual therapy for Voice and Swallowing dysfunction. recently I attended the British Society of Dental Sleep Medicine Members conference in London. Also undertook a two-day course in London with the American Board of Laser Surgery (ABLS) Certification course on Paediatric Tongue and Lip Ties, further in person training with MRC (Myobrace) as well as weekly continued development meetings and lectures with the Academy of Myofunctional therapy.
Poor oral function is something that I have constantly seen in the people I have treated throughout my career in the dental profession but now at Inspirewell, I am able to make a lasting difference to overall health.