Overview
Diagnosis
Tongue-tie is usually diagnosed during a physical exam. For infants, a doctor may use a screening tool to assess the tongue’s appearance and range of motion.
Treatment
Treatment for tongue-tie can vary. Some healthcare professionals recommend correcting it soon after birth, while others take a wait-and-see approach.
In some cases, the lingual frenulum may loosen naturally over time, resolving tongue-tie. If the condition persists without causing problems, no treatment may be necessary. Consultation with a lactation consultant can help with breastfeeding, and speech therapy with a speech-language pathologist may improve speech.
Surgical treatment may be needed for infants, children, or adults if tongue-tie causes issues. Procedures include frenotomy and frenuloplasty.
Frenotomy
A frenotomy is a simple procedure to release the lingual frenulum. It can be done in a hospital nursery or doctor’s office, with or without anesthesia.
The doctor examines the frenulum and uses sterile scissors or cautery to snip it free. Discomfort is minimal since few nerve endings or blood vessels are present. Any bleeding is usually minimal, and infants can often breastfeed immediately afterward.
Complications are rare but may include:
• Bleeding or infection
• Damage to the tongue or salivary glands
• Scarring or reattachment of the frenulum
Frenuloplasty
Frenuloplasty is a more extensive procedure recommended if additional repair is needed or if the frenulum is too thick for a frenotomy.
This procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia for infants or with sedation for adults. After the frenulum is released, the wound is closed with absorbable sutures.
Potential complications are similar to those of a frenotomy and include:
• Bleeding or infection
• Damage to the tongue or salivary glands
• Scarring due to the more extensive nature of the surgery
• Rare reactions to anesthesia
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