Tongue Tie Treatment Kempsey – Children & Adults
Frequently Asked Questions – Kempsey Dental Centre
Tongue Tie Treatment Kempsey for Children and Adults
At Kempsey Dental Centre, we provide tongue tie treatment Kempsey for children and adults when restricted oral tissues affect function, comfort, or daily activities. In addition, we regularly care for families who travel from across the Mid North Coast of NSW to seek assessment and treatment.
1. Why Was My Tongue-Tie or My Child’s Tongue-Tie Not Diagnosed Earlier?
Many patients and parents ask why a tongue-tie or lip-tie was not identified earlier by their doctor or dentist.
In most universities, tongue-tie and lip-tie assessment and treatment are not routinely included in basic medical or dental degrees. As a result, some healthcare providers may have limited experience recognising oral restrictions, especially when symptoms develop gradually rather than at birth.
For this reason, children and adults with ongoing functional concerns may benefit from assessment by a clinician with specific training in tongue-tie and lip-tie management.
Why Choose Kempsey Dental Centre for Tongue Tie Treatment Kempsey?
After graduating with his dental degree, Dr Nathan Le completed additional training in dental laser use beginning in 2001. Over time, he also expanded his clinical focus into orthodontics and has performed frenectomies as part of orthodontic care since 2005.
In addition, Dr Le has completed formal training in the assessment and management of oral restrictions, including Foundation and Advanced Tongue Tie Institute courses covering children and adults. He has also completed certified Waterlase laser training, where laser release is clinically indicated.
The Tongue Tie Institute is an Australian-based organisation that provides advanced education in tongue-tie and lip-tie assessment and treatment.
2. What Happens If a Tongue-Tie or Lip-Tie Is Not Treated?
When tongue or lip movement is restricted, normal oral function can be affected. Over time, some individuals develop compensatory patterns that place extra strain on surrounding muscles.
In Children
Restricted tongue function may contribute to:
Speech clarity difficulties
Narrow jaw development
Dental crowding related to limited jaw growth
In Adults
In adults, long-standing restriction may be associated with:
Head, neck, or jaw tension
Snoring or sleep-disordered breathing
These concerns are multifactorial, and tongue-tie or lip-tie is considered one possible contributing factor, not the sole cause.
3. Is Tongue-Tie Treatment Always Necessary?
Tongue-tie or lip-tie treatment is not always required. However, when a restriction affects normal tongue function, treatment may be considered.
Normal tongue movement supports:
Jaw and facial development
Speech and articulation
Swallowing and eating
Breathing and postural balance
Because compensations can develop over time, early assessment helps children and adults make informed decisions about treatment timing and options.
Tongue Tie Treatment Kempsey Using Laser Technology
4.1 Is Laser Better Than Scissors for Tongue-Tie Surgery?
The most important factor in any frenectomy is the training and experience of the clinician performing the procedure.
Dr Le has completed advanced training through the Tongue Tie Institute and has performed numerous tongue-tie and lip-tie releases for children and adults.
Compared with scissors, laser frenectomy:
Ablates (vaporises) tissue rather than cutting or crushing it
Helps seal small blood vessels, which reduces bleeding
Allows precise tissue release with minimal trauma
When an experienced clinician performs the procedure, laser frenectomy may support smoother healing.
4.2 Are All Dental Lasers the Same?
No. Different dental lasers are designed for different clinical purposes.
For frenectomy procedures, Dr Le aims to minimise heat and tissue penetration while achieving a precise release. For this reason, Kempsey Dental Centre uses the Waterlase iPlus 2.0 (Er,Cr:YSGG laser), which supports controlled tissue interaction and wound healing.
4.3 Why Don’t All Clinics Use Laser?
Dental lasers:
Require specialised training
Are highly regulated
Represent a significant financial investment
While basic diode lasers are less costly, Waterlase systems involve a much larger investment. After observing the clinical advantages for frenectomy procedures, Dr Le chose to adopt this technology to support patient care.
5. What Happens at the Appointments?
Visit 1 – Consultation
Approximately 30 minutes
Assessment of restriction severity, symptoms, and functional impact
Review of medical and dental history
Before your visit, we provide information to help you prepare. We also provide Face Games, an 8-week exercise program designed to support neuromuscular retraining when used alongside frenectomy. This program is provided free of charge to our patients.
Visit 2 – Frenectomy
Typically scheduled around 4 weeks after consultation
Allows time for pre-operative exercises where appropriate
Visit 3 – Review
1-week review appointment (free of charge) to assess healing
6. The Treatment Procedure
Before laser treatment, we apply a strong topical numbing cream followed by a small amount of local anaesthetic to ensure comfort.
Once numb:
Mild restrictions usually take about 1 minute to release
More severe restrictions in older children or adults may take longer
In most cases:
Bleeding is minimal
Sutures are not required
After treatment:
Patients may take paracetamol (e.g. Panadol) for up to 2 days
The first dose should be taken before numbness wears off
Pain relief may also be taken about 1 hour before stretches from days 3–5 if needed
Children usually return to school the next day, and adults often return to work the same day. Eating can resume as normal.
A small amount of bleeding in the days following treatment can occur and is usually not a concern.
Diet After Treatment
Most patients can return to their normal diet. However, if discomfort occurs, certain foods may increase sensitivity during early healing.
To improve comfort, we recommend temporarily avoiding:
Very salty foods
Spicy foods
Sour or acidic foods
Soft, mild foods are often better tolerated for the first few days. Patients can return to their usual diet as comfort improves.
7. Pre- and Post-Operative Care
To support functional outcomes:
Face Games for 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after treatment
Some patients may also benefit from:
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
Myobrace treatment, where frenectomy timing follows tongue suction and hold exercises
Patients with neck or shoulder discomfort may continue care with their chiropractor, physiotherapist, or osteopath. Those with ongoing speech concerns may benefit from a Speech Pathologist experienced in tongue-tie management.
8. Stretching Exercises to Support Healing
Stretching exercises help reduce the risk of re-attachment during healing.
We recommend:
Gently stretching each surgical area for 3 seconds
Performing stretches 3 times per day
Continuing this routine for 4 weeks
A white or diamond-shaped healing patch is normal and may be visible for up to 2 weeks. Improvement timelines vary between individuals.
9. Is Tongue-Tie Treatment Covered by Medicare?
Tongue-tie and lip-tie assessment and treatment are considered dental procedures and are not covered by Medicare.
Private health insurance item numbers may include:
014 – Consultation
391 – Frenectomy
Coverage depends on your individual policy.
10. Are There Any Restrictions After Surgery?
There are minimal restrictions after surgery. However:
Stretches should follow the aftercare plan
We recommend avoiding swimming for 7 days
Most patients should take things easy for the first 1–2 days
Travel is usually acceptable, provided aftercare instructions can be followed.
Tongue-Tie Treatment for Families Across the Mid North Coast NSW
Although our clinic is based in Kempsey, many families travel to us from across the Mid North Coast of NSW for tongue-tie assessment and treatment.
We commonly see patients from:
Port Macquarie
Coffs Harbour
South West Rocks
Macksville
Nambucca Heads
Wauchope and surrounding areas
Because tongue-tie assessment and treatment usually involve a limited number of visits, many families find it practical to attend from neighbouring towns. If you are travelling from outside Kempsey, our team can discuss appointment timing and aftercare to help reduce unnecessary travel.
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Final Notes
If you are considering tongue tie treatment Kempsey for yourself or your child, our team at Kempsey Dental Centre is happy to discuss assessment and treatment options.
Kempsey Dental Centre
📍 31 Smith Street, Kempsey NSW 2440
📞 (02) 6563 1313
Dr Nathan Le also provides tongue-tie and lip-tie treatment at Best Western Dental Centre.