A tongue tie (ankyloglossia) occurs when the lingual frenum — a small tissue band under the tongue — is too short or tight, restricting normal tongue movement. This seemingly minor condition can create significant challenges: breastfeeding difficulties in newborns, maternal nipple pain and injury, speech delays and articulation problems in older children, and difficulty with chewing, swallowing, and oral hygiene. At Dental Sedation Ottawa, we perform precise lingual frenectomy procedures that immediately release the restriction and restore normal tongue function — with comprehensive sedation ensuring complete comfort from birth through childhood.
Tongue tie, medically known as ankyloglossia, occurs when the lingual frenum — a small fold of tissue under the tongue that connects the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth — is too short, too tight, or attached too high (close to the tongue tip). When the frenum is excessively restrictive, it prevents the tongue from moving through its full range of motion.
The tongue's mobility is essential for countless functions: breastfeeding (the tongue must rise to form a seal and move in complex patterns), bottle feeding (tongue positioning affects suction and swallowing), speech (proper tongue placement is crucial for articulating many consonant sounds), eating and chewing (tongue movement is necessary for food manipulation), and general oral function.
Tongue ties are classified by severity — from mild (causing minimal functional impairment) to severe (creating substantial feeding, speech, and oral health problems). The severity is determined not only by how tight the frenum is, but also by how it affects the individual child's ability to feed, speak, and function.
Importantly, not every tight frenum needs to be released. A tongue tie only requires treatment when it causes documented functional problems: feeding difficulties, maternal pain, speech delays, dental spacing issues, or other functional limitations. Our evaluation process thoroughly assesses whether your child's specific tongue tie requires treatment.
Our sedation options ensure complete comfort — from newborns through older children.
Common symptoms that may indicate a tongue tie:
Tongue ties vary significantly in severity, appearance, and functional impact.
Comprehensive evaluation including visual and functional assessment of the tongue tie, discussion of feeding or speech concerns, review of medical history, and sedation planning. For infants with breastfeeding challenges, we coordinate with lactation consultants when possible.
We administer your chosen sedation option — topical numbing, nitrous oxide, oral sedation, IV sedation, or general anesthesia. Once your child is comfortable, we ensure complete numbness of the surgical area.
Dr. Koniouchine uses surgical scissors or a scalpel to carefully incise the frenum, releasing the restriction. For simple, thin frenums, this takes just 1-3 minutes. More complex cases with thick tissue may require slightly more extensive release and possibly 1-3 dissolvable stitches. Bleeding is typically minimal.
Your child awakens gradually if sedated. We apply gentle pressure with gauze to control any bleeding (usually stops within 1-2 minutes). For breastfed infants, nursing immediately is encouraged — it helps comfort the baby and supports healing.
Immediate Recovery (First 24-48 Hours): Discomfort is typically minimal — most children need only children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen for 1-2 days. The surgical site may appear white or yellowish (normal granulation tissue, not infection). Minor bleeding can occur if the area is disturbed.
For Infants: Nurse or bottle feed frequently — the sucking motion promotes healing and provides comfort. Expect some fussiness for 24-48 hours. You may notice improved latch and feeding efficiency within hours to days. Some infants experience a brief nursing strike (1-2 days) while adjusting to new tongue mobility.
For Older Children: Stick to soft, cool foods for 2-3 days (yogurt, applesauce, smoothies). Avoid hard, crunchy, spicy, or acidic foods. Gentle oral hygiene, avoiding direct brushing of the surgical area for the first few days.
Essential Stretching Exercises: To prevent frenum reattachment during healing (which happens in 5-10% of cases without exercises), we teach specific stretching exercises performed 2-4 times daily for 2-4 weeks. These involve gently lifting the tongue to stretch where the frenum was released. We demonstrate thoroughly and provide written instructions.
Speech Therapy: Infants released in the first few months typically develop normal speech without formal therapy. Older children (18 months and beyond) may benefit from 4-8 sessions of speech therapy to retrain muscle patterns. Therapy typically begins 2-4 weeks after release.
Complete Healing: The frenectomy site heals completely within 2-3 weeks. Functional improvements continue over weeks to months as your child learns to use their newly mobile tongue effectively.
Life-changing improvements for babies, children, and families
Transparent pricing for tongue tie release procedures
Many dental and health insurance plans cover tongue tie release at 50–80% when deemed medically necessary.
We provide direct billing to major insurance carriers and accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).
Flexible payment options available.
Our patients consistently rate us 5 stars for gentle, anxiety-free care. Read verified patient experiences on Google.
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