Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment in Albuquerque
What Is a Tongue Tie? What Is a Lip Tie?
A tongue tie, known clinically as ankyloglossia, occurs when the frenulum, the small band of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is too short, thick, or tight. This restricts the tongue's range of motion and can interfere with feeding, speech, breathing, and oral development.
A lip tie occurs when the labial frenulum, the tissue connecting the upper lip to the gum line, is too tight or restrictive. Lip ties are commonly found alongside tongue ties, and together they can make nursing significantly more difficult for infants.
Both conditions are present from birth and are more common than most people realize. They are not always obvious to the untrained eye, which is why many families spend months searching for answers before a proper evaluation identifies the underlying cause of feeding or developmental difficulties.
At Peak Family Dentistry, Dr. Adams takes a thorough, whole-body approach to evaluation. She assesses tongue and lip mobility in the context of airway, jaw development, and overall oral function, not just whether a frenulum appears visually tight. The goal is always to understand the full picture before recommending treatment.
Signs Your Child May Have a Tongue Tie or Lip Tie In Infants, Toddlers, and Older Children
Feeding and Nursing Difficulties
In infants, tongue tie and lip tie most commonly present as problems with breastfeeding. Signs include difficulty latching, poor milk transfer, prolonged or painful nursing sessions, excessive gas or colic, clicking sounds during feeding, poor weight gain, and nipple pain or damage for the mother. Bottle-fed babies may also struggle with fatigue during feeding or take in excess air.
Speech and Articulation Challenges
As children grow, an unresolved tongue tie can affect speech development. Difficulty with sounds that require the tongue tip to elevate, such as l, r, t, d, n, and th, is common. Some children compensate with alternative tongue postures that create secondary issues. A tongue tie does not always cause speech delay, but when it does, a frenectomy combined with speech therapy can make a significant difference.
Mouth Breathing and Airway Concerns
When the tongue cannot rest in its proper position at the roof of the mouth, the upper jaw does not develop as broadly as it should. This can lead to a narrow palate, nasal airway restriction, and mouth breathing, which in turn affects sleep quality, facial development, and long-term health. At Peak Family Dentistry, tongue tie is evaluated in the context of airway and arch development, not in isolation.
Dental and Jaw Development Issues
A restricted tongue posture can contribute to crowded teeth, an open bite, a high narrow palate, and gaps between the front teeth. Lip ties are also associated with a gap between the upper front teeth and difficulty keeping the lips sealed. Catching these issues early gives children the best chance of normal jaw and arch development without more involved treatment later.
What Is a Frenectomy? What to Expect A Simple Procedure With a Meaningful Impact
A frenectomy is a minor procedure in which the restrictive frenulum tissue is released, restoring normal range of motion to the tongue or lip. When performed at the right time and in the right clinical context, it can produce immediate and lasting improvements in feeding, speech, and oral function.
At Peak Family Dentistry, Dr. Adams performs frenectomies using a careful, precise approach with the goal of minimizing discomfort and healing time. The procedure is quick, typically completed in just a few minutes, and is well tolerated by infants, toddlers, and older children alike.
What the process looks like:
- A thorough evaluation of tongue and lip mobility, airway, and jaw development
- Discussion of findings and whether a frenectomy is appropriate for your child's case
- The release procedure, performed with local anesthesia for older children
- Aftercare guidance including stretching exercises to prevent reattachment
- A follow-up to assess healing and functional improvement
For nursing infants, Dr. Adams recommends a lactation consultant before and after the procedure to maximize outcomes. For older children with speech concerns, coordination with a speech-language pathologist gives the best results. Dr. Adams is happy to work alongside your existing care team.
Ready to find out if a frenectomy is right for your child? Call us at:
(505) 293-2211
Tongue Tie in Adults: It Is Not Too Late
Many adults live with an undiagnosed tongue tie for decades, often without realizing it is connected to issues they experience every day. Chronic neck and shoulder tension, difficulty swallowing, sleep-disordered breathing, TMJ dysfunction, poor tongue posture, and even digestive issues have all been associated with restricted tongue mobility in adults.
Adult frenectomy is a real and effective option. Dr. Adams evaluates adults for tongue tie in the context of their broader oral health, airway, and jaw function. For adults, the procedure is typically performed with local anesthesia and may be combined with myofunctional therapy to help retrain tongue posture and function following release.
If you have been told your tongue tie is not a problem, or if you have been searching for answers to symptoms you cannot explain, a consultation with Dr. Adams is a good place to start.
Why Choose Dr. Adams for Tongue Tie Treatment in Albuquerque?
Not all tongue tie evaluations are the same. The difference between a thorough evaluation and a surface-level one can mean the difference between a procedure that resolves the problem and one that does not. Dr. Billie Adams approaches tongue and lip tie as part of a broader understanding of airway, jaw development, and oral function, the same framework she applies to every patient.
Dr. Adams has extensive post-graduate training in pediatric airway and functional dentistry. She understands how tongue posture connects to arch development, breathing, sleep, and long-term health. She does not evaluate frenula in isolation. She looks at the whole child, and the whole picture, before making any recommendation.
Many families come to Peak Family Dentistry after seeing other providers who did not identify a tongue tie, or after a frenectomy elsewhere that did not fully resolve the problem. Dr. Adams takes time with each case, explains her findings clearly, and coordinates care with lactation consultants, speech therapists, and other providers when appropriate.
If you are in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, or the surrounding areas and you are looking for an experienced, thorough provider for tongue tie or lip tie evaluation and treatment, we would welcome the opportunity to help.
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Tongue Tie Treatment and Related Services
Tongue tie and lip tie are often connected to broader airway and developmental concerns. Dr. Adams frequently combines frenectomy evaluation with the following services:
Pediatric Airway Management
When the tongue cannot rest at the roof of the mouth, the upper jaw narrows and the airway suffers. Dr. Adams evaluates tongue tie as part of a full pediatric airway assessment, identifying whether early arch development or expansion is also needed to support your child's long-term health.
MARPE / Adult Palatal Expansion
Adults with a history of untreated tongue tie often present with a narrow palate and restricted airway. MARPE palatal expansion can widen the arch and improve nasal breathing in skeletally mature patients, and may be recommended alongside or following a frenectomy for adult patients.
