Tongue & Lip Ties at North Texas Smiles –
A Personal Note from Dr. Justin Warcup
As a board-certified pediatric dentist and a dad of four, I’ve walked this road both professionally and personally. When I graduated from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 2010 and completed my pediatric residency in Buffalo in 2012, “tongue tie” was barely a footnote in my training, mentioned once in passing during a small clinic rotation. Like most dentists back then, I thought I had everything covered for kids’ oral health.
Then came 2015 and our fourth baby, Chad. My wife Traci had breastfed our three older kids, but it was always a struggle, supply dropping around four months, mounting stress, and stopping by six. With Chad, it was heartbreaking: I’d walk in to find tears streaming down her face, toes curling from real pain. This wasn’t normal soreness; it was something deeper. Traci was determined to make it to a full year with our last baby and she even said she’d fly anywhere for help.
A chance conversation with a dental colleague changed everything. He asked if we’d checked for a tongue or lip tie. I scoffed at first, years of training and no one had ever emphasized this. But Traci listened. We had the release done, and while it wasn’t instant magic, the searing pain stopped. With help from an incredible IBCLC who fine-tuned positioning and used a nipple shield temporarily, Traci reached her goal. She nursed for twelve months and cried happy tears that day.
That moment cracked my world open. I realized how much tethered oral tissues (TOTs), tongue ties, lip ties and buccal ties were affecting families every day, often without anyone connecting the dots. I dove deep: lectures, research, conversations with pioneers. Today, I’ve evaluated and treated thousands of babies, kids, teens and adults.
My perspective shifted again in early 2020 when I began linking ties to airway development, facial growth and our modern diet, explaining why we’re seeing more of these issues now than our grandparents did.
At North Texas Smiles, we approach tongue and lip ties with compassion, expertise and a whole-child view. Using advanced LightScalpel CO2 laser technology, we perform gentle, quick frenectomies (tongue-tie and lip-tie releases) that minimize discomfort, promote fast healing, and cauterize as we go,no traditional clipping. This means less bleeding, quicker recovery and more comfort for your little one, often right from infancy.
What Are Tongue Ties and Lip Ties?
Tongue ties (ankyloglossia) and lip ties occur when the thin tissue (frenum) connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth or the lip to the gum is too tight, short, thick, or restrictive. This congenital condition limits movement, affecting breastfeeding, bottle feeding, speech, eating solids, dental health, breathing, sleep and even long-term facial/jaw development.
It’s Almost Never “Just” the Tie
From thousands of cases, true isolated ties are rare. Symptoms often involve a team puzzle: body tension, palate shape, airway restrictions, oral habits, or large tonsils/adenoids. That’s why we emphasize collaboration.
This Is a Team Sport
The best outcomes come from working together: skilled IBCLCs (lactation consultants) as the quarterback for babies, bodyworkers (craniosacral, chiropractic, OT), myofunctional therapists for tongue posture training, and sometimes speech therapists. We provide a referral list of trusted local providers in Fort Worth and beyond to support your family every step.
When Is the Best Time to Treat?
It depends on symptoms and goals:
For breastfeeding pain/poor transfer:
as soon as a qualified IBCLC confirms the tie is contributing and latch is optimized, often in the first weeks or months.
For speech, feeding solids, airway, or facial growth:
ideally when the child can cooperate for a more complete release (with suturing if needed) and has started myofunctional therapy to learn proper tongue rest (lingual-palatal suction). Early intervention can prevent bigger issues, but watchful waiting works for some posterior ties.
1. The Procedure: Gentle Laser Frenectomy
Dr. Warcup uses a precise CO2 laser for fast, comfortable releases.
Benefits include:
- Minimal discomfort (often with numbing for older kids)
- No stitches usually needed for infants, but absolutely necessary for children and adults
- Quick procedure (minutes!)
- Less bleeding and faster healing
- Lower risk of infection
We tailor care to your child’s age and needs, babies often bounce back in hours, older kids in days.
2. Aftercare: The Key to Success
Proper stretches and wound management prevent thick scarring (true reattachment is rare with good technique). We’ll guide you every step, dads/partners, this is where you shine: take those middle-of-the-night checks and stretches so mom can rest and recover. Your support means everything.
Reattachment is uncommon with diligent care, but healing varies, consistency softens tissue and improves function.
Myths & Realities
It depends on symptoms and goals:
1
“Release and the tongue will naturally widen the palate”: Not always, high/narrow palates may still need myofunctional therapy or gentle expansion.
2
“It’ll fix everything instantly”: Progress takes time, patience, and retraining especially for gag reflex, picky eating or speech.
3
Early release for speech: Anterior ties limiting tip movement often benefit early; posterior ones may be monitored.
SCHEDULE A TONGUE/LIP TIE EVALUATION TODAY
Your child’s smile, breathing, eating, speaking, and growing are all connected and I’m honored to help families like yours navigate this. If you’re seeing signs of a tie or just want peace of mind, let’s talk. We’re here to listen, evaluate gently and partner with you for the best path forward.
Call North Texas Smiles in Fort Worth, we can’t wait to support your family!
