TLDR: Tongue tie release combined with functional therapy helps children and adults breathe better, speak clearly, and improve overall oral health.
At Designing Smiles, Dr. Deborah Fung offers a comprehensive, modern approach in airway dentistry to treating tongue-tie (ankyloglossia)—a condition that can affect infants, children, and adults alike. Using advanced techniques like minimally invasive tongue tie release (frenotomy) combined with myofunctional therapy, we help patients not only release physical restrictions—but also restore proper oral function, improve breathing, and support long-term health.
Tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, occurs when the lingual frenulum—the small band of tissue that connects the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth—is unusually tight, thick, or short. This restriction can interfere with:
– Breastfeeding in infants
– Speech development in children
– Swallowing, chewing, and breathing patterns
– Jaw and neck tension in adults
– Tongue posture, which is critical for airway health and facial development
Left untreated, tongue-tie can impact sleep, posture, and even contribute to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues.
Dr. Fung combines advanced diagnostics, gentle surgical techniques, and functional therapy to deliver holistic tongue-tie treatment that focuses on both structure and function.
A quick, minimally invasive in-office procedure using laser or precision tools to gently release the tight frenulum and restore mobility to the tongue.
A customized set of oral and facial muscle exercises before and after the release to strengthen the tongue, retrain oral posture, and optimize long-term outcomes.
The combination of frenotomy + myofunctional therapy ensures the tongue not only gains freedom—but learns how to function properly after release.
– Improved speech, feeding, and swallowing
– Reduced mouth breathing, snoring, and sleep-disordered breathing
– Better tongue posture and nasal breathing
– Improved facial development in growing children
– Less jaw tension and TMJ strain in adults
– Lower risk of reattachment or incomplete healing
Functional treatment also helps prevent complications by guiding the tongue and oral muscles to work in harmony post-procedure.
A tongue-tie release without muscle retraining is like freeing a limb without teaching it how to move again. Myofunctional therapy is critical to:
– Increase tongue range of motion
– Repattern swallowing and breathing habits
– Support proper oral rest posture (tongue up, lips sealed)
– Enhance post-surgical healing and reduce scarring
At Designing Smiles, Dr. Fung collaborates closely with certified myofunctional therapists to ensure each patient receives tailored pre- and post-release support for optimal results.
– Initial Consultation & Functional Evaluation
– 3D imaging and tongue mobility assessment
– Customized pre-release myofunctional exercises
– In-office frenotomy using gentle, precise techniques
– Post-procedure therapy to reinforce function and healing
Every plan is individualized—whether you're a parent seeking help for a baby struggling to latch, or an adult seeking relief from chronic jaw tension and poor sleep.
Dr. Fung is known for her integrative, airway-focused approach to care. With advanced training in airway dentistry, skeletal expansion, and functional orthodontics, she brings a rare combination of precision and whole-body awareness to her treatments.
Patients across Minnesota trust Designing Smiles for solutions that go beyond traditional dentistry—and deliver better breathing, sleeping, and living.
Tongue-tie release, when combined with expert myofunctional therapy, can dramatically improve quality of life—from infancy through adulthood. Dr. Fung and our team are here to guide you through the process with compassion and clinical excellence.
👉 Schedule your consultation today with Dr. Fung at Designing Smiles and discover how a functional approach to tongue-tie treatment can transform your health and smile.
