Tongue Tie & Lip Tie Treatment in Charlotte, NC

When a newborn struggles to latch or a toddler has trouble eating certain textures and developing clear speech, parents often feel frustrated trying to find answers. A tongue tie or lip tie may be the reason behind these challenges. These conditions are more common than many families realize, and when left unaddressed they can affect feeding, speech development, airway function and overall quality of life. If your child is showing signs of a restricted tongue or lip, working with an experienced pediatric dentist in Charlotte for the right evaluation can make all the difference.

At University Pediatric Dentistry, tongue tie and lip tie treatment is one of our most sought-after pediatric dental services. Dr. Funny has over 18 years of experience evaluating and treating oral restrictions in infants, children and adolescents. As a board-certified pediatric dentist, a private practice owner and a mother herself, she understands the urgency parents feel when something isn’t right with their child’s feeding or speech. We reserve appointments specifically so families can get in quickly and get the clarity they need.

What Are Tongue Tie and Lip Tie?

Tongue tie (ankyloglossia) occurs when the thin strip of tissue connecting the underside of 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 and oral development. A lip tie is a similar condition where the tissue connecting the upper lip to the upper gum limits lip movement, making it difficult for a child to latch or feed effectively. Some children may also have a buccal tie — a tethered tissue on the inner cheek — which can compound feeding challenges.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the diagnosis of ankyloglossia has increased significantly in recent years. Both tongue tie and lip tie are present from birth and can range from mild to severe. Understanding the warning signs early gives families the best opportunity to act before these restrictions lead to longer-term challenges.

How Do I Know If My Baby Has a Tongue Tie or Lip Tie?

This is the most common question parents bring to us, and it’s exactly the right one to ask. The short answer: you often know something is wrong before you know what it is. Feeding that hurts, a baby who can’t seem to latch no matter what you try, or a toddler whose speech isn’t developing the way it should — these are all reasons to get a professional opinion.

A tongue tie is not always visible to the untrained eye. Some ties are obvious when you lift the tongue and see tight tissue pulling toward the floor of the mouth. Others — often called posterior tongue ties — are buried beneath the surface and only become apparent during a functional assessment that tests how the tongue actually moves. The same is true for lip ties: the severity is determined not by how it looks, but by how it affects function.

The most reliable way to know if your child has a tongue tie or lip tie is to schedule a functional assessment with a qualified provider. Lactation consultants and IBCLCs (International Board Certified Lactation Consultants) are often the first to identify a restriction during breastfeeding support. Pediatricians may flag it at a well-child visit. Speech therapists notice it when working with older children who struggle with certain sounds. If any of these providers have raised a concern, that referral is your pathway to an evaluation with Dr. Funny.

Signs of Tongue Tie and Lip Tie in Infants

In newborns and young infants, feeding is often the first area where a tongue tie or lip tie becomes apparent. Some of the most common signs we see include the following:

• Difficulty latching during breastfeeding or bottle feeding, including a shallow latch or clicking sounds while nursing
• Poor weight gain, frequent reflux or gassiness from swallowing excess air during feeding
• Inability to flange the upper lip outward during feeding, which may also cause blistering on the lip
• Prolonged feeding sessions that leave both baby and parent frustrated and exhausted
• Maternal nipple pain or damage during nursing that persists despite correcting latch position

These symptoms can take a toll on both the infant and the breastfeeding parent. When feeding is consistently difficult despite proper positioning and latch support, a tongue tie or lip tie evaluation may be the logical next step.

Signs of Tongue Tie and Lip Tie in Toddlers and Older Children

As children grow, the effects of a tongue tie or lip tie may shift from feeding to speech, eating habits and even sleep. Parents of toddlers and older children may notice the following:

• Speech delays or trouble pronouncing certain sounds, particularly sounds that require the tongue to reach the roof of the mouth
• Picky eating, gagging on certain textures or difficulty chewing age-appropriate foods
• Teeth grinding, mouth breathing or restless sleep that may be linked to restricted airway function
• Difficulty sticking the tongue out past the lower teeth or lifting it to the roof of the mouth
• Frequent gagging or a strong gag reflex during meals that doesn’t improve with age

If any of these patterns sound familiar, scheduling an evaluation with Dr. Funny is the next step toward getting answers for your family.

How We Evaluate Tongue Tie and Lip Tie

Before any treatment is recommended, we conduct a thorough functional assessment of your child’s tongue and lip mobility, feeding patterns, speech and overall oral development. To schedule this visit, a referral from a functional assessment provider is required. This may be a lactation consultant, your child’s pediatrician, a speech therapist, or another qualified provider who has observed the restriction in the context of function.

Our goal is never to recommend a procedure that is not clearly needed. We take a careful, individualized approach and make sure every family understands the findings before moving forward. Not every child with a visible tie needs treatment, and we are transparent about when observation is the better path. Diagnosis is based on how the restriction affects function — not just what it looks like.

For Lactation Consultants and Pediatricians: Referring to Dr. Funny

If you are a lactation consultant, IBCLC, pediatrician, speech therapist, or myofunctional therapist working with a patient who may have a tongue tie or lip tie, we welcome your referral. Dr. Funny works collaboratively with the wider care team to ensure every child who comes through our office has been evaluated by a functional provider first. This interdisciplinary approach leads to better outcomes, more targeted treatment decisions, and stronger support for families through the recovery process.

When referring a patient, please document the functional concerns observed — feeding difficulties, latch issues, speech patterns, sleep disruptions — so Dr. Funny can review this context during the functional assessment. A physician’s referral or a detailed note from an IBCLC or speech therapist is the standard pathway to scheduling an evaluation at our office. We are committed to communicating outcomes back to the referring provider and to supporting any post-procedure therapy the team recommends.

To refer a patient or ask questions about our evaluation and treatment process, contact our office directly. Our team is responsive and ready to guide you through the next steps.

How We Treat Tongue Tie and Lip Tie

When treatment is indicated, we may recommend a frenectomy. A frenectomy is a gentle procedure that releases the restrictive tissue to restore normal mobility of the tongue or lip. At University Pediatric Dentistry, we use the Solea® CO2 laser to perform frenectomies with precision and minimal discomfort. The Solea is the first CO2 dental laser system cleared by the FDA for both hard and soft tissue procedures, and it allows Dr. Funny to complete frenectomies with virtually no bleeding and faster healing compared to traditional methods.

For most children, the procedure itself takes only a few minutes. Little to no anesthesia is needed in many cases, and there are no sutures required. Children who need additional comfort during the procedure can benefit from options like nitrous oxide. It is important to note that the laser is not used during sedation dentistry procedures, so Dr. Funny tailors the approach based on each child’s individual needs.

What to Expect: Step by Step

Why CO2 Laser Frenectomy?

The CO2 laser offers several advantages over traditional surgical methods and even other laser types commonly used in dental offices. Benefits include the following:

• Minimal bleeding during the procedure, which improves visibility and comfort
• Reduced swelling and discomfort after treatment
• Faster recovery times compared to traditional surgical techniques
• No sutures needed in most cases
• Precision release of tissue based on function, not just appearance

These benefits make the experience gentler for children and less stressful for parents, which is why we have invested in this technology as part of our commitment to comfort-focused care.

What to Expect After a Frenectomy

Many families notice improvements right away, particularly with feeding. Breastfeeding mothers often report a better latch and less discomfort within the first few days after the procedure. For older children, improvements in speech and eating habits may develop more gradually, especially when paired with supportive care from a speech therapist or myofunctional therapist.

We provide detailed post-procedure stretching exercises and care instructions so families feel confident managing recovery at home. These exercises are important for helping the tissue heal properly and preventing reattachment. For infants, we encourage parents to resume feeding as soon as possible after the procedure because feeding itself supports healthy healing.

Therapy After a Tongue Tie Release

Releasing a tongue or lip tie restores movement — but muscles and feeding patterns that developed around a restriction may need time and guidance to adapt. This is why many families benefit from working with a myofunctional therapist, speech therapist, feeding therapist, or lactation consultant after the procedure. Dr. Funny coordinates referrals to trusted providers in the Charlotte area based on each child’s specific needs. If your child already has a care team in place, we work alongside them to ensure continuity through the recovery process.

Follow-Up and Ongoing Support

Dr. Funny personally follows up with a virtual call after every frenectomy to check on healing and answer any questions. If a concern comes up between appointments, our team is responsive and accessible. For families dealing with an urgent situation, we also offer emergency care appointments to accommodate children who need to be seen quickly. Continued preventive care visits after treatment help us monitor your child’s ongoing oral development and make sure progress stays on track.

Why Charlotte Families Choose University Pediatric Dentistry for Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment

Families across Charlotte trust University Pediatric Dentistry because Dr. Funny brings the clinical knowledge of a board-certified pediatric dentist and the perspective of a mother who understands what it means to want answers for your child. With over 18 years of experience and a track record backed by over 1,000 Google reviews, she has built one of the most trusted names in tongue tie and lip tie care in the Charlotte area. Her approach is thorough, individualized and grounded in doing what is right for each child rather than recommending treatment that is not clearly warranted. Learn more about her background on her doctor profile.

If you are concerned your child may have a tongue tie or lip tie, do not wait. Contact our office to schedule a functional assessment with Dr. Funny and take the first step toward answers. For families seeking flexible payment options, we accept CareCredit, Cherry financing, HSA and FSA funds, cash and major credit cards. Visit our financial options page to learn more about the ways we can make care affordable for your family.