Infant Tongue-Tie & Lip-Tie Treatment
Tongue- and lip-ties aren’t just cosmetic—they influence jaw and airway growth, feeding, swallowing, sleep, and overall development. Because ties don’t resolve on their own, early evaluation by an experienced provider like AirSync is essential. We offer both non-surgical therapies and a gentle, minimally invasive release when needed. Our approach is designed to be effective, precise, and compassionate.
Surgery May Not Be Necessary
Not every baby needs tongue-tie surgery right away—or at all. Treatment may be delayed to prepare tissues for optimal healing and to prevent trauma. We are an exclusive provider of BabyLase, a gentle light therapy that softens tight fascia, improves muscle movement, and helps us identify whether surgery is truly needed. In addition to resolving tissue ties, BabyLase optimizes neuromuscular coordination, balances cranial nerves, and resolves gestational as well as birth-related trauma.
Gentlest Surgical Approach
When a surgical release is needed, we begin with BabyLase to gently soften the tissues and reduce tension in the tie. Dr. Kimberly then performs the release using the LightScalpel CO₂ laser—a precise, pen-like instrument that separates and seals tissue at the same time. This results in minimal trauma, faster healing, and highly accurate outcomes. For older children, we also partner with Elite Anesthesia to provide on-site anesthesia, allowing your child to fall asleep safely and comfortably in your arms before treatment—without a hospital facility fee or the stress of handing your child to strangers in a waiting room. As you wish.
Healing takes about 30 days, and proper functional therapy and aftercare during this period are essential for the best results. Without this support, wound healing may be compromised, especially if the nervous system is in overdrive or if fascia tensions remain. That’s why our approach integrates airway care, nervous system regulation, and cranial balance to promote complete healing and reduce the risk of scarring or nerve complications.
Additional Needed Support
In many cases, AirSync will recommend oral motor therapy, feeding support, lactation guidance, or oral desensitization before a procedure. We also offer an in-house partnership with Becca Kneepkens, who specializes in infant feeding, oral motor development, and lactation care. And when your baby needs treatment or therapy beyond our scope, we work closely with a hand-selected group of trusted collaborators to ensure your child receives the highest level of care.
Special Training and Experience
To properly evaluate tissue ties, providers must understand optimal anatomy and optimal function. Because tethered tissue assessment is not part of dental or medical school training—including pediatrician and pediatric dentist education—many clinicians are not equipped to do this properly. Tongue-ties can be unidentified, misidentified, ignored, or overtreated surgically. Let AirSync help with optimal diagnosis and care.
At AirSync, we go beyond the average tongue-tie assessment. In addition to examining oral tissues, we include functional evaluations and reflex/neurologic assessments—giving us a more complete picture of how your baby’s mouth, airway, and nervous system are working together. This comprehensive approach helps us recommend only what is truly necessary.
Dr. Kimberly is a skilled and experienced surgeon with advanced training to treat delicate oral structures gently and precisely. Her expertise and over 10 years of specialty practice, combined with our holistic evaluation, ensures that your child receives the most accurate diagnosis and the safest, most effective care.
How Tissue Ties Develop
Oral ties begin forming around eight weeks of gestation. Some appear as obvious tissue bands, while others are hidden deeper in the fascia of the mouth.
It’s also important to know that not every restriction in the mouth is a true ‘tie.’ Sometimes fascia and muscle can be pulled into the midline from gestational or birth trauma, creating what we call a ‘masquerading tongue-tie.’ Interestingly, this can look, feel and function exactly like a tongue-tie that needs surgery—yet the underlying cause and treatment approach are very different.
Why Choose AirSync
AirSync is proud to be the one of the first practices in the Pacific Northwest to offer LightScalpel laser frenectomies, is the first BabyLase provider in Washington State, and the first to provide a non-surgical-first, minimally invasive functional approach. Our care is whole-body and nervous system informed, creating a strong foundation for healthy breathing, feeding, sleep, jaw growth, and lifelong wellness. Give your child the best start—call us today to schedule an evaluation.
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Give your child the best start
Early evaluation makes treatment easier and can prevent long-term problems. AirSync sees babies from their first week of life through childhood.