Is This a Tongue-Tie?

by | Nov 9, 2020

Tongue TIe

The answer is “It depends…”

We get asked this question via email all the time, and it’s a common question on Facebook groups, or just in clinical practice.

There are three possible diagnoses when you look in the mouth:
1. Normal frenum (if no symptoms, minimal or no restriction, then no treatment is indicated)
2. Symptomatic tongue restriction aka. ankyloglossia or tongue-tie (if symptoms and are restriction present, then treatment is indicated)
3. Asymptomatic tongue restriction (no symptoms, but appears restricted – just monitor – it has to be causing problems to be considered a “tie”)

That being said, don’t diagnose over FB or email.

Evaluate the patient in person, do a full assessment of related symptoms, and then make your diagnosis.

To learn more about tongue-ties download our book Tongue-Tied for free. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richard Baxter, DMD, MS, FAAPD

Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist  |  Fellow of the AAPD  |  Diplomate of the American Board of Laser Surgery

Dr. Richard Baxter is a board-certified pediatric dentist, Fellow of the AAPD, and Diplomate of the American Board of Laser Surgery. He is an internationally recognized speaker on tongue-ties, instructor of the acclaimed online course Tongue-Tied Academy, and lead author of the bestselling book Tongue-Tied: How a Tiny String Under the Tongue Impacts Nursing, Speech, Feeding, and More. He is passionate about educating parents and healthcare providers about the effects a tongue-tie can have throughout the lifespan. He lives in Birmingham, AL, with his wife, Tara, and their three girls, Hannah, Noelle, and Molly. He is the founder of the Alabama Tongue-Tie Center, where he uses the CO2 laser to release oral restrictions. He had a tongue-tie himself, and all of his girls were treated as infants, so this field is a personal one. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, running, and outdoor activities. He serves as a Faith Trainer at the Church at Brook Hills and participates in global missions projects around the world.

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