What a tongue tie and a lip tie actually are
Everyone has a thin band of tissue under the tongue and behind the upper lip. A tie means that band is short, thick or attached further forward than usual, so it limits how far the tongue or lip can move.
A tongue tie sits under the tongue and limits lifting and extension. A lip tie sits behind the upper lip and limits how far the lip can flange outward. A child can have one, both or neither.
Not every tie needs treating. Plenty of people have one and never notice. It matters when it is causing a problem, and that is the question we answer.
Signs worth having checked
- Feeding takes a long time, and the baby seems to be working hard but not getting much
- Clicking or a loss of suction during feeding
- Nipple pain, damage or mastitis that does not settle with positioning changes
- Poor weight gain, or feeding that never seems to finish
- Reflux symptoms, colic or a lot of swallowed air
- In older children, a gap between the front teeth, difficulty licking an ice cream, or certain sounds that stay unclear
What the appointment involves
-
We look before we treat
We check how the tongue and lip actually move, not just how the tissue looks. Appearance alone does not decide it. If function is fine, we say so and you go home.
-
The release itself
The restricted band is released. It takes a few minutes. For infants it is usually done with the baby swaddled and back in your arms straight afterwards.
-
Feed straight away
We want the baby fed right after, both for comfort and because it tells us something. Many parents notice a difference at that first feed. Some take a week or two.
-
Stretches and follow up
You will be shown the aftercare movements to do at home so the area heals open rather than reattaching. We check the site at a follow up visit.
Who you will see
Dr. Brian Hwangpo looks after tongue tie & lip tie at our Bishop Arts practice. You see the same dentist at every visit, so nobody starts your treatment over.
What it costs, and how people pay
Price depends on what you actually need, so we look first and tell you the number before anything starts. What we can tell you now is how it gets paid for.
- Insured. In network with most major PPO plans, and your benefits get checked before treatment is planned.
- Medicaid or CHIP. Both accepted, which a lot of Dallas practices will not do.
- No insurance. Our membership plan covers cleanings, exams and routine x-rays from $30 a month, with 20% off other treatment.
- Larger treatment. Cherry, Sunbit and HFD payment plans spread the cost.
Tongue Tie & Lip Tie questions
- How do I know if my baby has a tongue tie?
- The reliable signs are functional rather than visual: painful or unusually long feeds, clicking, loss of suction, poor weight gain, or nipple damage that does not improve when positioning is corrected. A tie you can see is not automatically a tie that needs treating.
- Does a tongue tie release hurt?
- There is very little tissue and very few nerve endings involved. Infants are typically unsettled for a few minutes and calm again once they are fed. Older children are numbed first.
- Will a tongue tie fix itself?
- The band does not lengthen on its own. Some children compensate well and never have a problem, which is why we treat function rather than appearance. If it is causing feeding, speech or dental issues, it needs releasing.
- Is a lip tie release covered by insurance?
- It depends on the plan and on whether it is coded as medically necessary. We check your benefits and give you the cost in writing before anything is booked.
- What age can a tongue tie be released?
- It can be done in the first days of life through to adulthood. Earlier is generally simpler for feeding problems, but there is no upper limit if a restriction is affecting speech or dental development.