Tongue Tie Release Services in Meridian, ID
Relief From Tethered Oral Tissues
Functional and Collaborative tongue tie, lip tie, and cheek tie releases for all ages
For some, speaking clearly, eating comfortably, and breathing easily is second nature. But for others, these simple actions can feel like an ongoing battle. If you fit into this category, you may not realize it, but your problems are likely linked to tethered oral tissues in the mouth such as a tongue tie, lip tie, or cheek tie, which are all present from birth.
- Tongue Tie
A tongue tie is a short, tight band of tissue that tethers the tongue to the floor of the mouth. It can interfere with breastfeeding and bottle feeding as a baby, cause sleep problems at all ages, lead to speech delays or challenges, and makes proper breathing more difficult if not near impossible. It can also lead to snoring, grinding, jaw pain, and sleep apnea.
- Lip Tie
A lip tie, also known as a superior labial frenulum, is a condition where the upper lip’s skin is too tightly attached to the gums, making it difficult for a baby to move their lip. This can prevent the baby from latching onto the nipple properly while breastfeeding or bottle feeding, which can lead to reflux, gas, difficulty sleeping, and poor weight gain. It can also trap milk against the teeth, contributing to dental decay. Lip ties can also prevent an adult from achieving a proper lip seal, which is key to optimal breathing and good quality sleep.
- Cheek Tie
A buccal tie, also known as a cheek tie, is a restrictive band of connective tissue that attaches the inside of the cheek to the gum tissue on the side of the dental arch. Tight buccal ties can affect people throughout their lives by contributing to a range of issues, including breastfeeding, speech, eating, oral hygiene, increased risk of cavities, and proper lip seal.
Tethered oral tissues can cause all sorts of challenges to babies, kids, and adults. The good news? A simple, precise procedure can release these restrictions and restore natural movement to your tongue, lip, or cheeks, improving your quality of life in ways you never expected.
However, it is crucial to take a functional and collaborative approach, looking at the person as a whole and involving other care providers on your team, as needed.
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to go years without realizing a tongue tie is the root cause of your challenges. We understand this struggle and are here to provide a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to treating your tongue tie and improving your overall well-being. Here’s how a simple tongue tie release procedure can be a life-changing solution for babies, children, and adults.
Tethered oral tissues can cause all sorts of challenges to babies, kids, and adults. The good news? A simple, precise procedure can release these restrictions and restore natural movement to your tongue, lip, or cheeks, improving your quality of life in ways you never expected.
However, it is crucial to take a functional and collaborative approach, looking at the person as a whole and involving other care providers on your team, as needed.
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to go years without realizing a tongue tie is the root cause of your challenges. We understand this struggle and are here to provide a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to treating your tongue tie and improving your overall well-being. Here’s how a simple tongue tie release procedure can be a life-changing solution for babies, children, and adults.
What is a Tongue Tie and How Is It Diagnosed?
A tongue tie is a band of tissue that connects the bottom of the mouth to the tongue, and when it’s too short or tight, it restricts the tongue’s natural movement. While tongue ties can vary based on diagnostic criteria, the simplest way to test for a tongue tie is to place your finger on the floor of your mouth and try to lift your tongue. If you cannot touch the roof of your mouth with your tongue, there’s a possibility you have a tongue tie, however further evaluation is needed to fully assess a tongue tie. It’s important to note that not all tethered oral issues qualify for a release. Because of this, you should visit your airway-focused dentist for a full evaluation to determine if you are an ideal candidate for this procedure. Some common symptoms of a tongue tie include the following:
Tongue ties can range in severity from grade 1 to grade 4. However, not all tongue ties need to be released to gain the desired mobility or should be released due to other issues present. It is crucial to consult a team of providers to make this decision. Babies require lactation consulting services (even if bottle feeding) as well as bodywork from professionals like chiropractors and craniosacral therapists before considering a tongue-tie release procedure. In many cases, children and adults require at least six weeks of myofunctional therapy combined with other medical treatments like craniosacral therapy, physical therapy, and chiropractic care before considering a tongue tie release procedure. When additional mobility is required after these treatments, our airway focused dentist, Dr. Clayton, will perform a tongue tie release to ensure the best possible results of your treatment.
After the release, it is crucial that each patient receives additional care from their team of providers for the best long-term results.
What is the Tongue Tie Release Procedure and Who Is Involved In My Treatment?
During your tongue tie release procedure, Dr. Clayton, your airway-focused dentist will use a gentle, state-of-the-art, Co2 laser to precisely release the restrictive tissue below your tongue through either a frenectomy, frenotomy, or frenuloplasty. This allows your tongue to move more freely in your mouth. This device allows for a quick, safe, and effective release with minimal discomfort, minimal bleeding, and faster healing. We now offer this procedure in our office to provide a stress-free and comfortable experience for babies, kids, and adults.
The tongue tie release procedure you need is based on the specific type and severity of your tongue tie. During a frenectomy, Dr. Clayton will remove the entirety of the frenulum, or band of tissue, while a frenectomy only makes a small incision to release the tethered oral tissue. In comparison, a frenuloplasty is used to reshape or reposition the frenulum to improve oral function.
We take an interdisciplinary approach to your treatment to ensure the very best results from your tongue tie release procedure. Depending on your specific needs and treatment plan, your care team will likely include a mix of several medical providers led by your airway-focused dentist. Below is a description of the role just a few of these providers play in airway health and tongue tie releases.
- Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy uses noninvasive exercises to improve facial, mouth, and tongue muscle function. It can improve speech, chewing, swallowing, breathing, snoring, and sleep apnea. It is crucial that patients receive myofunctional therapy both before and after a tongue tie release for the best long-term results. Neglecting this therapy can lead the tongue tie to reattach.
- Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle massage technique that relieves tension in the body’s fascia, helping to manage pain and stress before and after tongue tie release surgery. It does this by helping to release tension and restriction around your body’s connective tissue network, called the fascia.
- Physical Therapy
hysical therapy helps improve posture and breathing through exercises that enhance deep and abdominal breathing while also reducing general tension in the body to support myofunctional therapy and tongue tie release success.
- Lactation Consultant
Lactation consultants are often the first medical providers to diagnose tongue ties in infants. If a release is needed, they help retrain sucking patterns and ensure proper feeding.
- Orthodontist
An orthodontist can provide treatment to increase the width of the upper jaw via expansion devices in children to create sufficient space for the tongue to rest on the roof of the mouth, which is crucial to the long-term success of a tongue tie release.
Why Choose Restoration Dentistry For Your Tongue Tie Release?
At Restoration Dentistry, we take a comprehensive, and collaborative airway-focused approach to tongue tie, lip tie, and cheek tie releases. We don’t just perform the procedure—we ensure that every aspect of your treatment supports lasting success and that you have the proper care team to support you. By combining advanced laser technology with a collaborative team of specialists, including myofunctional therapists, craniosacral therapists, and lactation consultants, we help patients of all ages achieve better speech, eating, and overall oral function so you can finally sleep deeply, breathe well, and thrive.
If you or your child struggle with tongue mobility, difficulty breastfeeding, speech issues, or airway concerns, a tongue tie release could be life-changing. Let’s restore comfort, function, and confidence together. Call us at (208) 229-1500 or reach out through our contact form to schedule a consultation today!
