Serenity Valley Family Dentistry
Tongue-Ties
When a newborn struggles to latch during breastfeeding, or a toddler is slow to develop clear speech or meet motor milestones, parents are often told to wait and see. But in many cases, the underlying issue is structural, and it has a name: tongue-tie or lip-tie. These tethered oral tissues restrict movement in ways that can quietly affect feeding, sleep, growth, airway development, and even long-term dental alignment. The good news is that treatment is straightforward, minimally invasive, and can make a meaningful difference when addressed early.
At Serenity Valley Family Dentistry in Fargo, ND, tongue-tie and lip-tie releases are a cornerstone of the care we provide. Dr. Shandra Rosenfeldt has dedicated the majority of her clinical week to airway-focused dentistry, including frenectomy procedures for infants, children, and adults. Our approach to tethered oral tissues is rooted in whole-body health, which means we look beyond the oral cavity to understand how a restricted frenum affects a child’s overall development.
What Is a Tongue-Tie or Lip-Tie?
A tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) occurs when the frenulum, the band of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is too short, thick, or tight, limiting the tongue’s range of motion. A lip-tie involves a similar restriction between the upper lip and the gum line. Both conditions are present at birth and can range from mild to severe in their impact on function.
These restrictions aren’t always obvious to the untrained eye, but their effects often are. Infants with tongue-tie frequently struggle to create an adequate latch, which can lead to poor milk transfer, slow weight gain, and painful nursing for the mother. As children grow, restricted tongue movement can contribute to mouth breathing, speech delays, crowded teeth, disrupted sleep patterns, and development delays. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recognized ankyloglossia as a significant cause of breastfeeding difficulty, noting its impact on both infant nutrition and maternal health.
Signs That May Indicate a Tongue-Tie or Lip-Tie
Every child presents differently, and not every case will look the same. Some of the most common indicators parents notice include:
- Difficulty nursing or bottle-feeding
- A clicking sound during feeding
- Poor weight gain in infancy
- Colic and gassy symptoms
- A persistent gap between the front teeth
Older children may show signs of an elevated roof of the mouth, mouth breathing, snoring, and articulation challenges with certain sounds.
If any of these patterns sound familiar, it is worth having a proper evaluation rather than continuing to wait. Our team works with families throughout Fargo and the surrounding region who have often spent months searching for answers. Knowing what to look for early is the first step, and our guide to signs of tongue-tie in children can help parents identify whether a formal assessment makes sense for their child.
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Our Laser Frenectomy Procedure
At Serenity Valley Family Dentistry, we perform frenectomies using the Solea and Fotona laser. This precision soft-tissue laser allows for a quick, clean release with minimal bleeding and no need for traditional surgical scissors or scalpels. The Fotona laser delivers controlled energy to the tissue, which releases the restriction and simultaneously reduces discomfort during and after the procedure. Because the laser cauterizes as it works, there is little to no bleeding, and healing time is typically faster compared to conventional methods.
The procedure itself takes only a matter of minutes. Babies are typically able to nurse or bottle-feed shortly after treatment, and many families notice improvement in latch within the first feeding. For all ages, the release will involve stretching exercises afterward to ensure the tissue heals with a full range of motion. We walk every family through aftercare in detail before they leave the office, and we remain available for follow-up questions throughout the healing process. Our laser dentistry technology reflects our broader commitment to using advanced tools that make procedures gentler and more effective.
A Collaborative Approach to Your Child’s Care
One of the things that sets our practice apart is how seriously we take the team around each patient. A frenectomy is rarely a standalone intervention, and we believe the best outcomes occur when your dental team works closely with other providers already supporting your family.
We maintain active referral relationships with lactation consultants, myofunctional therapists, infant feeding therapists, and hospital-based occupational therapists. For infants, we often work hand-in-hand with local lactation and therapists, both before and after the procedure, because proper feeding mechanics need to be reestablished alongside the release. Myofunctional therapists help older children and adults retrain the tongue’s resting posture and movement patterns, which is critical for lasting results. Hospital OTs are an important part of our network for medically complex infants who may have additional feeding challenges beyond the tie itself.
At Serenity Valley Family Dentistry, we genuinely believe in this integrative model. Dr. Rosenfeldt’s path into airway-focused dentistry began through her own children’s experiences with tongue-tie, which gave her a firsthand understanding of how interconnected feeding, sleep, and airway health really are. That context shapes the way we approach every family that walks through our doors.
Serenity Valley Family Dentistry: Frenectomy Care Built on Experience and Connection
Serenity Valley Family Dentistry has served the Fargo-Moorhead community since 2006, with a mission to connect, guide, and support patients in achieving their highest level of health and dental awareness. Dr. Rosenfeldt now dedicates three out of every four working days to airway-centered care, including tongue-tie and lip-tie releases, sleep dentistry, and TMJ treatment. That depth of focus is not common in a general dental setting, and it reflects a genuine commitment to the families and patients who depend on this type of specialized care.
If you suspect your infant or child may have a tongue-tie or lip-tie, we encourage you to schedule an evaluation sooner rather than later. Early identification and treatment can prevent months of unnecessary struggle and support healthier development across feeding, speech, and sleep. Reach out to us via our contact form to request an appointment or ask our team any questions you may have. We are here to help you find answers and move forward with confidence.
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Did you know that Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) afflicts at least 25 million adults in the US—as many as 1 out of 5 adults. OSA is the end stage of a disease process called Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) which afflicts at least 80 million Americans, adults and children. Dentistry has a unique role to identify early signs of SDB and work with your sleep provider to stabilize and change the course of this disease.
