TONGUE TIE RELEASE – QUEENS, NY

What Is Tongue Tie?

Under the tongue, a small band of tissue called the lingual frenulum connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth. In most people, this tissue is flexible enough to allow full tongue movement. In patients with tongue tie, the frenulum is abnormally short, thick, or attached too far forward — tethering the tongue and limiting how far it can lift, extend, and move from side to side.

Tongue tie is present from birth and affects roughly 4–10% of the population. It ranges from mild, with minimal functional impact, to severe, where the tongue is almost entirely bound to the floor of the mouth. Severity is evaluated both by how the frenulum looks and, more importantly, by how it affects function.

What Is a Lip Tie?

A lip tie involves the labial frenulum — the band of tissue connecting the upper lip to the gum above the upper front teeth. When this tissue is too thick or attached too low, it can restrict lip movement, interfere with breastfeeding, and in older children and adults, create or maintain a gap (diastema) between the upper front teeth that orthodontic treatment alone may not fully close.

Lip ties are often identified alongside tongue ties, and frenectomy — the release procedure — is commonly performed for both in the same visit. Dr. Yelizar evaluates both structures during consultation and will advise on whether one or both releases are indicated.

Signs of Tongue Tie at Every Age

Tongue tie presents differently depending on the patient's age and the severity of the restriction:

• Infants — Difficulty latching during breastfeeding, poor milk transfer, prolonged or painful nursing sessions, clicking sounds while feeding, poor weight gain, and reflux-like symptoms
• Toddlers and young children — Delayed or unclear speech, difficulty pronouncing certain sounds (particularly l, r, t, d, n, th, s, z), messy eating, difficulty moving food around the mouth, and trouble licking
• Older children and teens — Persistent speech issues despite therapy, open bite, spacing between front teeth, mouth breathing, snoring, and difficulty with orthodontic treatment compliance or outcomes
• Adults — Restricted tongue movement, difficulty with certain foods or kissing, jaw tension, neck stiffness, speech patterns that haven't resolved, and relapse after orthodontic treatment due to low tongue posture

Not every person with a tongue tie will experience significant symptoms — and not every case requires treatment. The decision to release a tongue tie is based on functional impact, not appearance alone.

How Tongue Tie Affects Orthodontic Treatment

The tongue is a powerful muscle that, at rest, should sit against the roof of the mouth. This resting posture applies gentle upward pressure that helps the upper jaw develop to its proper width and shape. When the tongue is tethered by a restrictive frenulum, it rests low in the mouth — removing that developmental pressure and contributing to narrow arches, crowding, open bites, and forward head posture.

From an orthodontic standpoint, an untreated tongue tie can undermine treatment outcomes and contribute to relapse after braces or aligners. If the tongue is still restricted after teeth are moved into alignment, it continues to exert abnormal forces that may push teeth back out of position over time — even with consistent retainer wear.

Addressing a tongue tie in conjunction with orthodontic treatment — and coordinating with a myofunctional therapist when appropriate — produces more stable, long-term results than orthodontics alone. Dr. Yelizar evaluates tongue function as part of comprehensive treatment planning and will recommend release when it's likely to meaningfully improve outcomes.

Laser Tongue Tie Release with the Picasso Lite

At SimpliBraces, tongue tie release — formally called a frenectomy or frenotomy — is performed using the Picasso Lite soft tissue laser. Laser frenectomy has become the preferred approach in modern orthodontic and dental practices over traditional scalpel procedures for several important reasons:

• Minimal bleeding — The laser cauterizes tissue as it cuts, dramatically reducing bleeding during and after the procedure
• Reduced infection risk — The laser sterilizes the treatment area simultaneously, lowering the risk of post-procedure infection
• Less discomfort — Laser procedures are associated with less post-operative pain than traditional surgical methods
• No sutures required — The precision of the laser typically eliminates the need for stitches
• Faster healing — Soft tissue healed with laser energy tends to recover more quickly than tissue cut with a scalpel
• High precision — The laser targets only the frenulum with minimal impact on surrounding tissue

The procedure itself typically takes only a few minutes. Topical anesthetic is applied beforehand to minimize discomfort. Most patients — including infants — experience significantly less distress with laser frenectomy than with traditional approaches.

What to Expect Before, During, and After the Procedure

Before: Dr. Yelizar will evaluate tongue and lip mobility, review symptoms, and confirm whether release is indicated. For older children and adults, a functional assessment helps determine whether myofunctional therapy before or after release would improve outcomes. There is no special preparation required for the procedure itself.

During: Topical anesthetic is applied to the treatment area. The laser release takes only minutes. Most patients report feeling mild pressure or warmth — not sharp pain. Infants can typically nurse immediately after the procedure.

After: Mild soreness is normal for a few days and is easily managed with over-the-counter pain relief. Dr. Yelizar will provide specific aftercare instructions, which typically include gentle stretching exercises to prevent reattachment of the frenulum as the site heals. For older children and adults, referral to a myofunctional therapist is often recommended to help retrain tongue posture and function following release.

Tongue Tie Release and Myofunctional Therapy

For many patients — particularly older children and adults — releasing the frenulum is only part of the solution. If the tongue has been restricted for years, the muscles may be underdeveloped and the habitual resting posture may not change on its own after release.

Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is a specialized form of exercise-based therapy that retrains the muscles of the tongue, lips, and face to function correctly. Working with a myofunctional therapist before and after frenectomy helps patients achieve maximum functional benefit from the release — better tongue posture, clearer speech, improved breathing, and more stable orthodontic results.

Dr. Yelizar coordinates care with qualified myofunctional therapists in the Queens area and will advise on whether a referral is appropriate for your case.

Who Should Consider Tongue Tie Release?

Tongue tie release may be appropriate if you or your child:

• Has been diagnosed with ankyloglossia by a pediatrician, lactation consultant, or dentist
• Is an infant with breastfeeding difficulties related to latch or milk transfer
• Has speech issues that have persisted despite speech therapy
• Has an open bite, a gap between front teeth, or a narrow upper arch
• Has low tongue posture, mouth breathing, or habitual snoring
• Has experienced orthodontic relapse and tongue function has not been evaluated
• Is an adult who has always had limited tongue mobility and related functional symptoms

We see patients from Rego Park, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Elmhurst, Corona, and across Queens. An evaluation is the only way to determine whether release is indicated — and if it's not, we'll tell you clearly.

Why Choose SimpliBraces for Tongue Tie Release in Queens?

Tongue tie release is most valuable when it's evaluated and performed within the context of a comprehensive orthodontic and functional assessment — not as an isolated procedure. Dr. Yelizar brings a whole-mouth perspective to every frenectomy: understanding how tongue function relates to jaw development, airway, and orthodontic stability means the release decision is made with the full clinical picture in mind.

Using the Picasso Lite laser, the procedure is fast, comfortable, and precise. And because SimpliBraces takes a lifetime approach to oral health, we remain involved in monitoring function and orthodontic stability long after the procedure is complete.

Our office is located at 63-109 Saunders St #BA2, Rego Park, NY 11374, conveniently accessible from throughout Queens.

Schedule a Tongue Tie Evaluation Today

If you suspect a tongue tie in yourself or your child, the first step is a thorough evaluation. We'll assess tongue and lip mobility, review symptoms, and give you a clear recommendation — including whether release is indicated and what to expect if you move forward. Contact SimpliBraces to schedule your consultation. We serve patients of all ages across Queens.