Tongue Tie Release Procedures
Tongue tie and lip tie care
Tongue Tie Release Procedures
If your baby is struggling to latch, or your child has a tight band of tissue restricting tongue movement, our team offers thorough evaluation and, when appropriate, precise laser release using the FDA-cleared LightScalpel CO2 laser, all guided by a personalized exam rather than a one-size-fits-all recommendation.
Understanding the condition
What Is Tongue-Tie?
Tongue-tie, medically called ankyloglossia, happens when the lingual frenulum, the band of tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is tighter or shorter than usual. This can restrict how far the tongue lifts, extends, or moves side to side.
Tongue-tie is common and does not always cause problems. For many infants, the tissue stretches naturally or the baby adapts without difficulty. For others, a tight frenulum can interfere with breastfeeding, and in older children it can occasionally affect speech or oral hygiene. A hands-on evaluation is the only reliable way to know whether a particular tongue-tie is affecting function.
What to look for
Signs That May Indicate Tongue-Tie
The most well-documented impact of tongue-tie is on infant breastfeeding. Signs worth having evaluated include:
- Difficulty latching or staying latched during breastfeeding
- Clicking sounds or milk loss while feeding
- Poor weight gain despite frequent feeding
- Prolonged or painful nursing sessions for the parent
- Limited tongue movement visible on exam, including difficulty lifting the tongue tip
- In older children, certain speech sound difficulties or trouble with foods that require a sweeping tongue motion
These signs are common to many feeding and oral-motor issues, not only tongue-tie, which is exactly why an in-person exam matters more than a checklist.
A careful, evidence-based view
Not Every Tongue-Tie Needs Treatment
Tongue-tie has become a widely discussed topic, and it is worth being precise about what the evidence actually supports. Research reviewed by the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and by Messner and colleagues points most consistently to breastfeeding difficulty as the indication with the clearest evidence for frenotomy in infants, when a qualified clinician confirms restricted tongue mobility is contributing to feeding problems.
Claims connecting tongue-tie to other conditions are less settled. Notably, a 2024 American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report concluded that tongue-tie alone does not cause pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, even though the two are sometimes discussed together online. We think it is important to say this plainly rather than overstate what a frenectomy can do. Our team's evaluation looks at tongue-tie as one possible piece of a child's broader oral and airway development, not an automatic explanation for unrelated symptoms, and we recommend treatment only when an exam supports it.
Dr. Kevin Boyd, our Chief Dental Officer, brings a background in craniofacial growth and evolutionary oral development to this evaluation, looking at how the tongue, jaw, and airway develop together over time rather than assessing the frenulum in isolation.
Our procedures
Precision Laser Care With the LightScalpel CO2 Laser
Rebis Health uses the LightScalpel CO2 laser, FDA-cleared, American-made technology, for select soft tissue procedures. Treatment recommendations are personalized: your clinician determines candidacy based on your exam and goals, not a standard protocol applied to everyone.
Frenectomy (Tongue Tie Release)
Release of restrictive tissue to support comfortable oral function and airway-focused goals.
Functional Frenuloplasty
A more comprehensive release when appropriate, designed to support mobility and function.
Soft Palate Tightening
A focused soft tissue procedure used in select cases when clinically indicated.
Why laser care
Why Patients Choose Laser Procedures
As it vaporizes tissue, the LightScalpel laser seals small blood vessels and lymphatics at the same time, which is why laser release compares favorably to traditional scalpel methods on several fronts.
Minimized Bleeding
Sealing blood vessels during the procedure means many cases require no sutures.
Less Swelling and Discomfort
Sealing lymphatics reduces post-operative swelling compared with traditional scalpel surgery.
Reduced Risk of Infection
The laser's sanitizing effect can support faster, cleaner healing.
Shortened Surgery Time
Improved visibility of the surgical field, with less time spent controlling bleeding.
Faster Recovery
Less trauma and swelling mean many patients return to school or work the same day.
Reduced Risk of Scarring
Studies of CO2 laser-treated tissue show less wound contraction than traditional methods.
Meet the team
Meet the Clinicians
Kevin Boyd, DDS, MSC
Chief Dental Officer
Lisa Coburn, DDS
Director of Airway Dentistry
Marzieh Shafie, DMD
Airway Dentist
Have questions about candidacy? We’ll walk through options and recommendations. Contact our laser procedure specialist.
Where to be seen
Choose a Location
Westminster
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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A frenectomy is a gentle, precise procedure that releases a tight band of tissue (called a frenum) in the mouth that may be restricting natural movement of the tongue or lips. When these tissues are too tight, they can quietly interfere with breathing, sleep quality, feeding, speech, and overall oral development.
At Rebis Health, frenectomies are performed as part of a comprehensive airway-focused approach to care. Using advanced laser technology, the procedure is quick, minimally invasive, and designed to support improved function, comfort, and healing at any age. Rather than treating the frenum in isolation, our team evaluates how it connects to the bigger picture—airway health, nervous system regulation, sleep, and long-term wellness.
The goal is to restore balance, mobility, and the body’s ability to do what it was designed to do: breathe, sleep, and heal more effectively.
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The LightScalpel CO2 laser is a device that produces a concentrated beam of light. The highly focused CO2 laser beam vaporizes, cleanly and precisely, while sealing blood vessels at the same time. Years of experience in medicine and oral surgery went into the design of the LightScalpel laser, which was made to provide superior care for patients.
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Traditional surgery with a scalpel or scissors can bruise or crush tissue. When we use the LightScalpel CO2 laser, only an intense beam of laser light interacts with the tissue. There is no mechanical trauma to the tissue and the coagulation zone is very narrow (as little as 50 microns – almost the width of a human hair).
The CO2 laser has the unique ability to vaporize or ‘erase’ tissue. The CO2 laser can be used to make incisions, as well as to remove unhealthy tissue. Our laser is so precise that it can selectively remove only a few cells at a time if needed. At the same time, it is powerful enough to de-bulk the largest of tumors.
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When used according to accepted guidelines by a trained practitioner, the laser is as safe as other instruments. You will wear special protective glasses, just like you would to protect your eyes from sun exposure.
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A laser can perform a wide variety of surgical procedures. Your doctor will be able to tell you if you are a candidate for laser surgery.