Eating textures that feel hard
Gagging on lumpy food, refusing meat or bread, packing food in the cheeks, or eating very slowly. The tongue plays a quiet role in how children learn to chew and swallow.
Children's dentistry · Lip & tongue tie
Tongue or lip tie? Calm answers for Bacchus Marsh parents.
A dentist, speech pathologist or GP may have mentioned it, or you've noticed something at mealtimes. This page explains what a tie is, how our Bacchus Marsh dentists assess it, and what's involved if release is recommended. Nothing here asks you to decide before the assessment.
Assessment first · not every tie needs release
Diagram is illustrative and general — anatomy and severity vary between individuals.
The plain-English version
What a tongue tie actually is.
The lingual frenulum is the thin band of tissue under the tongue. In most mouths it's loose enough for the tongue to lift and stretch freely. When it's shorter, thicker or attached further forward, it can restrict how the tongue moves — that's what people mean by a "tongue tie." A similar band under the top lip can restrict the lip instead, which is a lip tie.
Anatomy alone doesn't decide anything. What matters is whether the restriction is causing a problem, so a tie is assessed clinically and functionally before release is even discussed.
Official health guidance says the same. The Victorian Government's Better Health Channel (reviewed 4 August 2026) says tongue-tie may improve on its own by age two or three, and that most breastfeeding problems are not caused by tongue-tie. Healthdirect (last reviewed January 2026) adds that some tongue-ties cause no problems at all: babies feed and older children talk normally.
What parents tend to notice first
The signs that raise the question.
None of these on its own confirms a tie, and plenty of eating and speech difficulties have other causes. They're simply the signs that often lead a family to ask.
Speech sounds that haven't come
Ongoing trouble with 'r', 'l', 's' or 'th' — sounds that need the tongue tip to lift. Speech pathology leads; release is only considered when restriction is clearly part of the picture.
A gap between the front teeth
A persistent gap between the upper front teeth, held by a thick band of tissue under the lip. It's often something to consider when planning orthodontic treatment.
A lip that can't quite lift
A tight band under the upper lip that may contribute to a gap between the front teeth or food getting trapped.
If your child is a baby, read this first
Babies begin with a conversation.
For a baby, the first step is a phone call rather than an online booking. Call our Bacchus Marsh team on (03) 8001 7008, Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and tell us what you've noticed — how your baby feeds, rests and settles. We'll talk through the right next step with you, including whether our clinic is the right place for your baby's assessment.
We'll be straight with you about what can and can't be answered over the phone. The rest of this page explains what an assessment involves and how a release is decided, so you know what that conversation might cover.
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, a service funded by the Australian Government (last reviewed August 2023), notes that tongue-tie doesn't always mean a baby needs treatment, and that for many babies the tissue loosens as they get older. If feeding is hard, your doctor, a maternal and child health nurse or a lactation consultant can help too.
What the appointment is actually like
Assessment first. Release only if it's genuinely needed.
The release itself is brief. Most of the time goes into getting the assessment right, making sure you understand the options, and showing you the aftercare you'll do at home.
1
A calm first conversation
We ask what brought you in, about any speech or eating concerns, and what you've noticed at home. There's no rush, and you're welcome to bring a support person.
2
The functional assessment
We check how well the tongue lifts and moves side to side, listen to speech where relevant, and look at the teeth and gums. If a speech pathologist, orthodontist or GP has seen your child, bring along anything they've told you.
3
Findings, options, consent
We explain what we found, whether release is clinically indicated, what to expect and the alternatives — including doing nothing. Ask us about fees and payment options at any time.
4
Numbing, with The Wand
The Wand delivers local anaesthetic at a steady, controlled rate to numb the area. Everyone in the room wears protective eyewear.
5
The release itself
Once the area is fully numb, the laser part is usually quick. In most cases there's no scalpel and no stitches.
6
Stretches at home, then review
Your dentist shows you the gentle stretches to do at home, gives you aftercare instructions, and explains how healing and movement will be checked.
Comfort, designed around kids
A quieter, smaller moment.
We don't rush appointments or use words that might create unnecessary worry. Instruments are introduced slowly, and each step is explained in words your child understands. Parents can stay close if that helps.
For numbing, Magical Smiles Bacchus Marsh uses The Wand, which is designed to make injections feel less noticeable.
Principal Dentist Dr Rachna Yadav's professional development includes the Untangling Tongue Ties Advanced Course, SOSforTOTS and Laser Surgery training, and Dental Laser Safety Officer training.
For the detail-oriented
Want the full clinical detail?
This is the parent's version. The full clinical page — how the laser works, the Fotona LightWalker system, and each step of the appointment — is at Laser Tongue & Lip Tie Release.
For everything else we do for kids — first visits, check-ups, bulk-billed eligible care and Myobrace — start at our children's dentistry page.
Questions parents ask first
Asked by parents, answered plainly.
Ask anything else when you call — we'd rather you ring with twenty questions than book unsure.
Call us before you book anything. Tell our Bacchus Marsh team on (03) 8001 7008 what you've noticed, and we'll talk through the right next step for your baby, including whether our clinic is the right place for their assessment. That's a question we'd rather answer with you than guess at on a web page.
Not every tight frenulum needs releasing, and not every speech or eating difficulty comes from a tie. An assessment looks at how freely the tongue lifts and moves, how that affects speech and chewing, the teeth and gums, and whether something else could explain what you're seeing. We'll explain what we find, and we only recommend release when it's clinically indicated.
We numb the area first with The Wand, a computer-controlled system that delivers local anaesthetic at a steady, controlled rate. Once the area is numb, the laser part of the visit is brief. We won't promise your child will feel nothing, but we explain each step before we do it and keep the visit as calm as we can.
It varies from child to child. The area stays numb for a few hours, much like after a filling, so soft food is easiest at first. Your dentist will give you aftercare instructions for your child, including what to eat and when they can go back to school.
Sometimes. A tight tongue can make sounds that need the tongue tip to lift, such as r, l, s and th, harder to say. But speech develops for many reasons, and a speech pathologist is the right person to lead. If restriction might be part of the picture, a dental assessment can check how freely the tongue moves.
The fee depends on the complexity and extent of the tissue attachment, and the final cost is set after your child's examination and assessment. For current fees, call our Bacchus Marsh team on (03) 8001 7008. Health fund cover varies by fund and policy; we can check your individual cover, or give you the item numbers to ask your fund. Payment plans may be available for eligible patients, with approval and terms set by the payment provider.
When you're ready
Questions first, decisions later.
Book a consultation when it suits you, or call first if your child is a baby. We'll assess carefully, explain plainly, and only recommend release if it's clinically indicated. A consultation doesn't commit you to treatment.