01 / Children
Eating textures that feel hard.
Gagging on lumpy food, refusing meat or bread, packing food into the cheeks, or eating very slowly. How freely the tongue moves can play a part in how children learn to chew and swallow.
Laser Dentistry · Tongue & Lip Tie
Laser Tongue & Lip Tie Release in Bacchus Marsh
Maybe a speech pathologist mentioned a "tongue tie", maybe a dentist did, or maybe you've wondered for years why your tongue never quite reaches. Here's what an assessment at our Bacchus Marsh clinic involves, and what happens if release turns out to be the right next step.
A note before we begin
You probably don't need one more person telling you it might be a tongue tie. What helps more is knowing what the assessment involves and what a release visit actually feels like, whether you're asking for your child or for yourself.
So that's where we'll start: plainly, one step at a time, and with no pressure to go ahead until the assessment has given you an answer.
— The Magical Smiles Bacchus Marsh team
What it helps with
When the tongue or lip can't quite reach.
A tight frenulum shows up differently at different stages of life. It might be a child whose speech sounds are slow to come, a teenager with a gap between the front teeth, or an adult who has always felt their tongue sits low. These are the patterns we look at during an assessment.
What a tongue tie actually looks like.
The lingual frenulum is the thin band of tissue under the tongue. In most mouths it's loose enough that the tongue lifts and stretches freely. When it's shorter, thicker, or attached further forward, tongue movement is restricted — that's what's meant by a "tongue tie." A similar band under the upper lip can hold the lip down instead; that's a lip tie. The same laser handles other soft-tissue work at the clinic too, such as laser gum depigmentation. Tongue tie is not rare in babies: a 2023 literature review reports infant prevalence anywhere from 0.1% up to 12% (accepted 7 December 2023), and many people with a short frenum have no problems at all, as the Better Health Channel (reviewed 4 August 2026) notes.
The diagram is general and for illustration only; anatomy and severity vary from person to person. An in-chair functional assessment is what decides whether release is appropriate for you or your child.
02 / Speech
Speech sounds that haven't come.
Ongoing trouble with 'r', 'l', 's' and 'th', sounds that need the tongue tip to lift and flex. Your speech pathologist stays in the lead; release is only considered when restriction is clearly part of the picture.
03 / Teens
The midline gap that won't close.
A gap between the upper front teeth (a diastema) that a thick labial frenum can help hold open. It often comes up during orthodontic planning, and it shows up in every photo.
04 / Adults
The tightness you learned to live with.
Trouble lifting the tongue, or a long-held sense that it has always sat a little low. Adults can be assessed too, and the assessment tells you whether a tie is actually part of the problem.
05 / Adults
Gum recession behind the lower teeth.
A tight frenum under the tongue that pulls on the gum edge can contribute to recession behind the bottom front teeth. Release is sometimes part of gum care, to take that strain off.
06 / Adults
A lip tie that quietly bothers you.
An upper lip frenum that contributes to a gap, a spot where food keeps catching, or recession at the front. Often something people have noticed for years without knowing it could be looked at.
How the laser works
Light, instead of scissors.
A laser frenectomy uses precisely tuned light, not a blade, to release the band of tissue that holds the tongue or lip. The Er:YAG wavelength is strongly absorbed by the water in soft tissue, so it removes tissue in tiny, controlled increments.
The Er:YAG beam, photographed mid-emission through falling water: the same physics that suits this wavelength to soft-tissue work like frenectomy.
Soft-tissue precision, measured in microns.
Soft tissue is mostly water, so Er:YAG light is taken up right where it is aimed. The laser removes the restrictive tissue in small, controlled passes, which means the laser step itself is usually brief, stitches are usually not needed, and bleeding is usually light.
In the chair, it runs much like other dental visits. The area is numbed first, the laser step is short, and you leave knowing how to do your aftercare stretches and when your review is.
- Frenectomy
- Complete release of the restrictive frenulum — the most common laser approach for tongue and lip ties.
- Frenotomy
- A more conservative incision of the frenulum, sometimes used for very superficial anterior ties.
- Posterior tongue tie
- A submucosal restriction — harder to see but often felt during functional assessment.
The equipment
Fotona LightWalker. The laser we use in Bacchus Marsh.
Magical Smiles Bacchus Marsh uses the Fotona LightWalker, a dual-wavelength Er:YAG and Nd:YAG dental laser system. For tongue and lip tie release we use the Er:YAG wavelength, which is strongly absorbed by the water in soft tissue and suits small, delicate areas of the mouth.
Why we chose this system.
Releasing a frenulum calls for fine control of depth on a very small structure. The LightWalker gives our Bacchus Marsh dentists that control, which is why it's the tool we use for this procedure.
- Er:YAG · 2940 nm Strongly absorbed by water, which suits it to the soft, water-rich tissue of the frenum.
- VSP technology Variable Square Pulse delivery: short, clean pulses that remove tissue with limited heat spreading to the area around it.
- Adjustable settings Power and pulse settings are adjusted to the tissue being treated, from thin, delicate bands to thicker, firmer ones.
- Laser safety Protective eyewear for everyone in the room. Our principal dentist, Dr Rachna Yadav, has completed a dental laser safety officer course.
What the appointment is actually like
The visit, step by step.
The release itself is brief. Most of the time goes into what surrounds it: an assessment that gets the answer right, consent you fully understand, and aftercare you can actually manage at home.
i
Consultation
We start with what brought you in, any speech or eating concerns, and a look at the teeth and gums. There's no rush, and you're welcome to bring a support person.
Assessmentii
Functional assessment
We check how far the tongue lifts and moves side to side, listen to speech where that's the concern, and check the teeth and gums. Bring any notes from your speech pathologist, orthodontist or GP; they help us see the whole picture.
Assessmentiii
Findings & consent
We explain what we found, whether release is genuinely indicated, what to expect and the alternatives, including leaving it alone. If release is recommended, we talk through the cost and can check your health fund cover before you go ahead.
Assessmentiv
On the day
The area is numbed with The Wand, a computer-controlled system intended to make the injection feel less noticeable. Everyone in the room wears protective eyewear.
Treatmentv
The release
Once the area is fully numb, the laser releases the band in small, controlled passes. The laser step is usually brief, there's no scalpel or scissors, and stitches are usually not needed.
Treatmentvi
Immediate function check
A gentle rinse, then a check of tongue lift, lip movement and swallowing. The first movements can feel unfamiliar while the area is still numb.
Treatmentvii
Aftercare teaching
We show you the gentle stretches to do at home, how often to do them and for how long. If anything worries you afterwards, call the clinic on (03) 8001 7008.
Treatmentviii
Review
A follow-up visit to check healing and movement, and to go over the stretches with you so you know you're on the right track.
Follow-up
Compared to scissors or scalpel
A quieter, smaller moment.
Scissor and laser release are both clinically valid techniques, used widely in Australia. Here's how the laser approach usually differs in practice. Your dentist will explain which suits your situation at the assessment. The Better Health Channel describes a frenectomy as snipping the frenum with surgical scissors or laser, considered once a trained health professional has diagnosed tongue-tie and other methods have not been successful. A 2025 systematic review of frenectomy in children under five (accepted 27 September 2025) says frenectomy may enhance breastfeeding outcomes but that limited, varied studies preclude firm clinical recommendations, and that professional opinion is divided: only 10% of paediatricians and 30% of otolaryngologists believe ankyloglossia affects feeding, while 69% of lactation consultants report breastfeeding difficulties attributed to it.
Aspect
Scissor / scalpel
Laser (Er:YAG)
Bleeding
Small amount, controlled with gauze
Usually light often less
Sutures
Sometimes required
Usually not needed usually none
How the band is released
Cut with scissors or a blade
Removed with light, in small controlled passes
Anaesthetic
Local injection or topical
Local via The Wand (computer-controlled flow)
Choosing the technique
Decided at assessment
Decided at assessment case by case
Aftercare stretches
Needed
Needed, and just as important
Tongue tie care in Bacchus Marsh
Careful hands, clear advice, no pressure.
Tongue tie care can involve dentistry, speech pathology, orthodontics and gum care. At our Bacchus Marsh clinic we aim to make our part of it the calm, predictable part you don't have to worry about.
01
Trained in laser use
Laser dentistry needs specific equipment and training, which our Bacchus Marsh team has completed. Our principal dentist, Dr Rachna Yadav, has also completed the Untangling Tongue Ties Advanced Course.
02
Fotona LightWalker
A dual-wavelength Er:YAG and Nd:YAG system. The Er:YAG wavelength does the fine soft-tissue work this procedure needs.
03
The bigger picture
A speech pathologist, orthodontist or GP may already be involved. Bring any notes or reports they've given you, and we'll take them into account at the assessment.
04
A quiet pace
We leave time for questions and explain each step before it happens, so nobody, child or adult, is hurried through the visit.
05
The Wand for numbing
When local anaesthetic is needed, we use The Wand, a computer-controlled system intended to make the injection feel less noticeable.
06
Honest assessments
Not every tie needs releasing, and we'll say so when that's what we find. The consultation answers the question; it doesn't commit you to anything. That matches the Australian Dental Association's policy statement (amended 24 October 2025), which says not everyone diagnosed with ankyloglossia needs surgery and that non-surgical management should be considered first, and the NHS (page last reviewed 20 March 2024), which says treatment is not usually needed if tongue-tie is not causing any problems.
FAQ
The questions most patients ask first.
Answered plainly by the Bacchus Marsh team you'd see in the chair. Ask anything else when you call (03) 8001 7008. We'd rather you ring with twenty questions than book unsure.
A tongue tie (ankyloglossia) is a short or tight lingual frenulum, the band of tissue under the tongue, that limits how the tongue moves. A lip tie is a similar tight band, the labial frenulum, running from the upper lip to the gum, which can limit how the lip moves. Both are checked for how they look and how they work before release is considered, because what matters is whether the band is actually causing a problem.
It's for anyone with a concern about how the tongue or lip moves. The assessment looks at that movement, any speech, eating or dental concerns, and whether something else explains the problem better, and it answers whether release is genuinely indicated. If you're not sure an assessment suits your situation, call us on (03) 8001 7008 and we'll talk it through with you first.
Not every tight frenulum needs releasing, and not every speech or eating difficulty comes from a tie. A proper assessment looks at how the tongue moves, how that affects speech, eating and the teeth and gums, and whether something else explains the problem better. We'll explain what we find and only recommend release if it is genuinely indicated.
A laser frenectomy uses an Er:YAG laser to release the band of tissue in small, controlled passes. Compared with scissors or a scalpel, bleeding is usually lighter and stitches are usually not needed. Both techniques are valid, and which one suits you depends on the tie and the person. Your dentist will explain the choice at the assessment.
We numb the area first with local anaesthetic given through The Wand, a computer-controlled system intended to make the injection feel less noticeable. Once the area is numb, the laser step is usually brief. Everyone's experience is different and we can't predict exactly how it will feel, but we explain each step before it happens and check in with you throughout.
You can usually talk straight away, though the area stays numb for a few hours, much like after a filling. Soft foods are easiest at first, and most people return to their usual diet as comfort allows. Your dentist will give you specific guidance for the frenum that was released.
After a release, the area needs gentle stretches several times a day while it heals, so that it heals open and mobile rather than tightening again. We show you the exact technique at the appointment, tell you how long to keep going, and check progress at your review. If the stretches become hard to keep up, call us and we'll work through it with you.
Sometimes. A restricted tongue can make sounds that need the tongue tip to lift, like r, l, s and th, harder to make. But speech development has many parts, and a speech pathologist is the right person to lead. If they think tongue movement may be part of the picture, a dental assessment can check it; bring their notes along.
Yes, adults can be assessed. Common reasons include trouble lifting the tongue, a gap or gum recession linked to a tight frenum, or a long-held sense that the tongue sits low. If release is recommended, it's done under local anaesthetic, and recovery is similar to other minor gum procedures.
The cost depends on what the assessment finds and the treatment recommended, and we talk it through with you before you go ahead. Health fund cover varies by fund and policy, and we can check your cover beforehand. We can also check whether your child is eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. Afterpay, Zip and humm payment plans are available, subject to approval.
Yes. Magical Smiles Bacchus Marsh, 83 Gisborne Road, offers laser tongue and lip tie release with the Fotona LightWalker, always starting with an assessment. Call (03) 8001 7008 or book online; the clinic is open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.
Where to find us
Tongue tie assessment in Bacchus Marsh.
Everything happens at Magical Smiles Bacchus Marsh on Gisborne Road: the assessment, the release and the review. Here's how to book, what to bring and how paying works.
01
Bacchus Marsh
Maddingley · Darley · Hopetoun Park · Long Forest
Phone(03) 8001 7008
HoursMon–Sat 9am–5pm
Address83 Gisborne Rd, VIC 3340
02
Told to get it checked?
Speech pathologist · orthodontist · GP
Phone(03) 8001 7008
BringAny notes or reports you have
03
Fees & CDBS
HICAPS · Afterpay · Zip · humm
FeesDepend on your assessment
CDBSEligibility checked for you
FundsClaim on the spot
When you're ready
This is for you if you're tired of guessing.
Book a consultation at Magical Smiles Bacchus Marsh when it suits you. We'll assess properly, explain plainly and only recommend release if it's genuinely needed. The assessment answers the question and doesn't commit you to anything.