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Tongue tie - Treatment

Alternative Names

Ankyloglossia; Frenulum

Treatment:

Most breast-feeding problems can be easily managed with a variety of strategies.

If you run into any problems, talk to a lactation consultant (a person who specializes in breast feeding).

Surgery is seldom necessary, but if it is needed, it involves cutting the tissue under the tongue. This surgery is called a frenulotomy.

Most often, this procedure is done in the doctor's office. Infection or bleeding afterwards are possible, but rare.

Surgery for more severe cases is done in a hospital operating room. A surgical reconstruction procedure called a z-plasty closure may be needed to prevent scar tissue from forming.

Complications:

On rare occasions, tongue tie has been associated with tooth, swallowing, or speech problems.

  • Reviewed last on: 11/12/2010
  • Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Hall DM, Renfrew MJ. Tongue tie. Arch Dis Child. 2005;90:1211-1215. Review. Erratum in: Arch Dis Child. 2006;91:797.

Wyllie R. Common lesions of the oral soft tissues. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 312.

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