Tongue-Tie Treatment in Chamblee, GA

At Simon Says Smile, we provide tongue-tie assessment and treatment for infants, children, and teens when restricted frenum tissue affects feeding, speech, breathing, or orthodontic development.

Tongue-Tie Treatment

Recognizing the Signs of a Tongue-Tie

Tongue-tie presents differently depending on age and degree of restriction. In infants, common signs include difficulty latching, poor weight gain, prolonged feeding, and clicking sounds during nursing. In toddlers and older children, look for difficulty articulating certain sounds, a lisp, restricted tongue movement, and a notched or heart-shaped tongue tip when elevated. In adolescents, tongue-tie is often discovered during an orthodontic evaluation when arch development, bite patterns, or breathing concerns prompt a closer look at tongue function.

Signs that may indicate a tongue-tie across different age groups:

Difficulty latching or sustaining a latch during breastfeeding
Speech delays or difficulty pronouncing specific sounds in toddlers and children
Inability to elevate the tongue tip to the roof of the mouth or extend it past the lower lip
Narrow upper arch or developing open bite identified during an orthodontic evaluation

How Tongue-Tie Affects Oral and Dental Development

The tongue actively shapes the developing mouth — pressing against the palate daily to widen the upper arch. When tethered, this is lost, leading to a narrow palate, crowding, bite issues, and compromised airway.

Tongue-Tie and Its Connection to Breathing

When the tongue cannot rest against the palate, it drops low — reducing nasal airway dimensions and promoting mouth breathing. This creates a cycle where tongue restriction and airway compromise reinforce each other, requiring both to be addressed together.

Tongue-Tie Assessment and Treatment

Tongue-tie affects patients of all ages, from nursing newborns to teens with undiagnosed restrictions contributing to orthodontic complexity. Our evaluations focus on functional impact — what the tongue can and cannot do — not just how the frenum appears visually.

The Release Procedure

A tongue-tie release (frenectomy or frenotomy) is a quick, minor in-office procedure. Infants and young children receive topical or local anesthetic; older patients receive local anesthetic for full comfort. Recovery is brief, with mild soreness and minimal bleeding, while the improvement in tongue function is lasting.

Tongue-Tie Treatment

Tongue-Tie Release and Orthodontic Treatment

When tongue-tie is identified during an orthodontic evaluation, the timing of release matters. Releasing before or at the start of treatment removes the functional barrier that works against appliances like palatal expanders, allowing a free tongue to reinforce arch widening rather than counteract it. Release mid-treatment still improves outcomes and reduces relapse risk.

Orthodontic contexts where tongue-tie release is commonly recommended:

Prior to palatal expansion to maximize the arch-widening response
When open bite or narrow arch development is linked to poor tongue resting posture
Before braces or aligner treatment to reduce the risk of relapse after treatment ends
When tongue thrusting during swallowing is contributing to bite problems

What to Expect Before and After Tongue-Tie Release

Preparing for the Procedure

Before the procedure, we walk parents and patients through what to expect, answering all questions before we begin. For infants, we recommend feeding close to the appointment. For older children and teens, we explain everything in age-appropriate terms. We don’t proceed until the family is fully informed and ready.

Post-Release Care and Follow-Up

After release, the tongue needs guidance to move correctly after a lifetime of compensation. For infants, feeding exercises and lactation support help establish effective nursing immediately. For older children and teens, myofunctional therapy is a standard part of our post-release protocol, ensuring lasting tongue function and more stable orthodontic outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything You Need to Know About Tongue-Tie Treatment

How do I know if my child has a tongue-tie?

Signs vary by age. In infants, look for difficulty latching, uncomfortable feeding, poor weight gain, and clicking while nursing. In toddlers and older children, watch for speech difficulty, a lisp, inability to extend the tongue past the lower lip, or a heart-shaped tongue tip. In some cases, tongue-tie isn’t identified until an orthodontic evaluation reveals arch narrowing or bite patterns linked to poor tongue posture.

Does a tongue-tie always need to be released?

Not always. Release is recommended based on the degree of restriction and its functional impact on feeding, speech, swallowing, breathing, or dental development. A mild attachment with no meaningful functional limitation may not require intervention, while one contributing to feeding difficulty, speech delays, or orthodontic problems typically warrants treatment. We evaluate each case individually and recommend release only when clinical findings support it.

What is the difference between a tongue-tie and a lip-tie?

A tongue-tie involves the lingual frenum beneath the tongue, restricting its movement, elevation, and resting posture. A lip-tie involves the labial frenum connecting the upper lip to the gum, limiting how far the lip can flare outward — affecting breastfeeding latch and potentially causing a gap between the upper front teeth. The two conditions frequently occur together and are both assessed as part of a complete frenum evaluation at our office.

At Simon Says Smile, Where every smile is a win!

Get In Touch

Reach out to us today to book your appointment. Our team looks forward to welcoming you and guiding you every step of the way toward a smile you’ll feel confident sharing.

Phone:
404-480-4940

Email: .

Location:
3731 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd
Suite 103
Chamblee, GA 30341

Hours:

Mon-Thu: 7:30AM – 5:00PM
Fri: 8:00AM – 1:00PM
Sat-Sun: Closed

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