A tongue-tie is one of those conditions that often goes unrecognized for far longer than it should. In newborns, it shows up as difficulty latching, painful nursing sessions, and a baby who cannot seem to get enough at each feeding. In older children and adults, the signs are subtler: speech patterns that never quite resolved, difficulty with certain sounds, or the quiet mechanical limitations that come with a tongue that simply cannot move the way it needs to. In both cases, a straightforward procedure can change a great deal.
Tega Cay families and adults searching for a provider who genuinely understands tongue-tie do not have to look far. Lotus Dental Associates, located in Fort Mill, South Carolina, treats patients of all ages for tethered oral tissues, and tongue-tie release is one of Dr. Nhung Phan’s areas of deepest focus. Her interest in airway-centered care, including tongue ties, lip ties, and their downstream effects on breathing, sleep, and development, reflects a practice philosophy that looks beyond the tooth and considers the whole patient.
A tongue-tie, clinically known as ankyloglossia, occurs when the lingual frenulum, the band of tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is unusually short, thick, or positioned in a way that restricts the tongue’s range of motion. According to a 2024 review published by the National Institutes of Health, tongue-tie affects roughly 3% to 4% of infants and presents with clinical manifestations that vary significantly by age, from breastfeeding difficulties in newborns to articulation challenges and mechanical limitations in older patients.
The range of effects a tongue-tie can have is broader than most people realize. Because the tongue plays a central role in swallowing, speech production, airway position during sleep, and the development of the dental arches, a restricted frenulum can contribute to challenges that extend well beyond the mouth.
Dr. Phan’s airway dentistry approach is built around understanding these connections and addressing them at the source rather than managing symptoms in isolation.
One of the things that distinguishes Lotus Dental Associates is the breadth of patients Dr. Phan sees for tongue-tie. Many providers focus exclusively on infants, but the reality is tongue-ties go undiagnosed across all age groups, and the functional impact does not disappear with childhood.
For breastfeeding mothers, a tongue-tied infant is often the source of significant distress. Latching difficulties, prolonged feeding sessions, poor weight gain, and maternal nipple pain are among the most common signs. Dr. Phan has worked with nursing mothers and their newborns to identify frenulum restrictions early and perform a frenectomy that addresses the root cause of feeding struggles. Some of our most meaningful patient experiences have come from mothers who drove significant distances to see Dr. Phan after struggling to find a provider who could help.
As children grow, a tongue-tie that was not addressed in infancy can contribute to speech difficulties, altered facial development, sleep-disordered breathing, and dental alignment issues. The connection between tongue-tie and speech development is something Dr. Phan has written about, and it is a conversation she welcomes with parents who are noticing signs in their children that have not resolved on their own.
Tongue-ties in adults are more common than most people expect, and many adults have lived for years with functional limitations they assumed were simply part of how they were built. Restricted tongue movement can affect speech clarity, jaw tension, sleep quality, and even posture in some cases. Release in adulthood is a viable and often underutilized option, and many patients report meaningful improvements in function and comfort following the procedure.
Dr. Phan performs tongue-tie releases using the Solea laser, a precise, minimally invasive tool that reduces bleeding, minimizes discomfort, and supports faster healing compared to traditional surgical techniques. The laser allows for a controlled, accurate release of the frenulum tissue with less trauma to the surrounding area, which is especially important in infant patients.
The procedure itself is brief. For infants, it is typically completed in minutes with minimal disruption. For older children and adults, the experience is similarly straightforward, with local anesthesia used as appropriate. Dr. Phan walks every patient and family through what to expect beforehand and provides clear aftercare guidance to support healing and optimize the functional outcome of the release.
Ongoing monitoring at routine dental cleanings and exams allows us to track healing and address any questions as they arise. Most patients heal quickly, and Dr. Phan remains closely available during the recovery period to ensure the outcome meets expectations at every stage.
For parents, the financial side of a procedure like this often comes with its own stress, particularly when it is unexpected and arrives in the newborn period. At Lotus Dental Associates, we accept Delta Dental Premier and offer an in-house wellness plan for patients who are uninsured, so a gap in coverage does not have to delay care for a newborn who is struggling to nurse or a child whose speech development is being affected.
Flexible financing through CareCredit, LendingClub, and Cherry is available for patients of all ages. Whether you are a parent researching options for your infant or an adult who has been wondering for years whether a tongue-tie release might help, we want the financial conversation to be the easiest part of the process.
Dr. Phan’s commitment to airway-focused dentistry, including the treatment of tethered oral tissues at every age, has made Lotus Dental Associates a trusted destination for patients throughout Tega Cay, Fort Mill, and the surrounding communities. She approaches each tongue-tie case with genuine curiosity and care, taking the time to understand the full functional picture before making a recommendation. Learn more about her background and philosophy on our about page.
If you are ready to schedule a consultation or simply want to ask whether what you or your child is experiencing sounds like a tongue-tie, reach out through our contact form and we will be in touch to help you take the next step.
