Adult Frenectomy Experience: 6 Weeks Later

In April of this year I had my tongue-tie released (you can read about that here), and after 6 weeks I'm back with an update on how things are going!

I've been having weekly oral myofunctional therapy (OMT) sessions with Samantha as planned, and I recently completed the first phase of therapy, which focused on correct tongue placement as well as developing strength and mobility in my tongue and lips. The second phase of therapy has me working on coordinating the movements of my tongue and lips to learn to swallow properly. I haven't been progressing through the exercises as quickly in this phase, but that's to be expected since I'm fighting habits that have been established in my body for almost 38 years... It's definitely a (re)learning process!

As far as my other symptoms (i.e., chronic neck tension, jaw clenching, grinding teeth), some have recurred since the initial relief I felt immediately after the frenectomy. My neck and shoulders have felt more sore in the past few weeks, and my jaw tension is back. This seems to be a common concern or complaint among adults after release, and I must admit that it is disheartening to feel symptoms emerge again after experiencing such significant improvement right after the procedure!

However, muscle memory is powerful, even more so the longer our body patterns have been established. It has been helpful for me to remember that although the frenectomy felt like a quick fix because of its immediate effects, there are many years of poor postural and motor habits that must be unlearned before lasting improvement can be expected. With that in mind, I have been continuing with regular tongue and neck stretching, yoga, and bodywork sessions (craniosacral therapy/CST and massage therapy) to address compensatory muscle tension patterns and alleviate the discomfort in my neck and shoulders.

I notice small improvements with every aspect of my aftercare plan, and communicating openly with my dentist, OMT, and bodyworker has been very helpful in knowing what I can reasonably expect, as well as how to optimize my function and results post-release.

Adult Tongue-Tie and Frenectomy

Ankyloglossia is commonly known as tongue-tie, which is a congenital condition where the tissue membrane connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth is unusually short, thick, and/or tight. This often causes problems throughout development, first interfering with breastfeeding ability in infancy and continuing to affect feeding, swallowing, and speech in childhood, as well as palate formation and the placement of incoming permanent teeth.

Additionally, improper resting position of the tongue can restrict the airway and cause sleep apnea in children and adults, which in turn negatively affects sleep quality and attention & focus during the day. Moreover, sleep apnea is linked to a number of other health conditions across age groups, including obesity, hyperactivity, high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes, high LDL cholesterol, cardiac and liver problems, acid reflux, and cognitive symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, learning difficulties, and depression.

While the symptoms of ankyloglossia present differently over time as our bodies learn to compensate for the restricted muscles and tissues, tongue-ties are easily corrected by frenectomy: a simple procedure where the restrictive webbing under the tongue (or the lingual frenulum) is released, mobilizing the tongue and enabling it and the supporting musculature to function more optimally.

My Experience

I've been a massage therapist for 11 years, but it was only recently that I began learning about tethered oral tissues (i.e., tongue/lip/buccal ties) and their long-term effects. Many of the symptoms of tongue-tie in adults resonated with me, particularly jaw clenching, teeth grinding, neck & shoulder tension, and forward head posture. So, I decided to get a functional evaluation myself, at 37 years old. I'd always attributed my symptoms to the everyday stresses of life, a somewhat anxious personality, and the physical nature of my job. However, I was eager to see if there might also be a structural cause or contributing factor, as I'd had limited results from regular yoga practice, acupuncture, bodywork, aromatherapy, etc. for tension relief.

I met with Samantha, the Oral Myofunctional Therapist who is part of our team at the PA Tongue-Tie Center, for the evaluation. She guided me through a series of activities to test the functional limitations of my oral musculature, and found that my tongue was quite restricted. This was affecting my chewing, swallowing, and causing my jaw and other facial muscles to work especially hard to compensate. We also realized that my tongue was resting against my teeth instead of my palate, which explained part of my dental history where my occlusion (bite) had been adjusted from open to closed, but over time became open again. That is, my tongue was gradually pushing my front teeth forward so that the top and bottom teeth no longer touched.

Once Samantha determined that a tongue-tie was present and I would benefit from a frenectomy, we began the therapy process to strengthen my tongue in preparation for the procedure. Oral myofunctional therapy (OMT) before and after release is critical because the tongue and supporting muscles don't automatically know what to do once they have the proper range of motion; they must be retrained because they have been unable to move and function as they should.

Another important adjunctive therapy in treating ankyloglossia is bodywork, specifically craniosacral therapy (CST) and/or chiropractic care. These modalities target and correct abnormal strain patterns in the body that result from compensatory muscle actions caused by ties. As with OMT, it's often helpful to receive CST or chiropractic before frenectomy to loosen the tissues and facilitate a more complete release, as well as after the procedure.

After almost 3 months of weekly OMT, I reached the point where I couldn't progress any further without having my tongue released, so we scheduled the frenectomy with Dr. Cockley, who performs releases via laser. The entire procedure lasted only a few minutes, including time for the numbing agents to take effect. I felt minimal discomfort and no pain during the frenectomy, but the effects of the release were immediately noticeable.

My Results and Aftercare Plan

Aside from the sudden ability to fully elevate my tongue, the first thing I noticed just minutes after my release was that my neck & shoulder tension relaxed as my shoulders settled into a new resting position. It seemed to require less conscious effort for me to maintain good posture. That night during yoga, I was able to bend and fold further into the poses without the familiar stiffness or pain shooting from my neck down my spine, as though a cord of tension connecting my upper and lower body halves had been severed.

I am now one week post-op and I've noticed less tension in my body overall, which has reduced my general stress & anxiety levels. I'm able to chew and swallow certain foods more easily, so I don't feel the usual fatigue in the floor of my mouth while eating. My face and jaw feel more relaxed more of the time, particularly while driving and sleeping when I tend to clench my teeth. Doing the post-op tongue exercises and stretches 5 times a day as recommended has kept any soreness to a minimum, and I always feel better afterward.

For my aftercare plan, I am continuing weekly OMT with Samantha to gain optimal strength, mobility, and function of my tongue and supporting muscles. I received monthly CST treatments prior to my frenectomy and will receive a few more biweekly treatments, as recommended by my practitioner. Ultimately, I'm very happy that I decided to pursue this. My tongue-tie release has already made a tangible difference in my life, and it was well worth it!

Consequences of having a Tongue Tie: For Adults

There are several consequences that patients experience when they or infant of theirs has a tongue tie. TongueTie.net is a wonderful resource for patients who struggle daily with an untreated tongue tie. As stated on their website, they are 'Dispelling the myths and revealing the facts about this little-understood condition'.

This excerpt below has been taken from TongueTie.net and is on the consequences of

untreated tongue tie in adults.

What adults have to contend with is very much the result of old habits of compensation for inadequate tongue mobility. The areas of difficulty spread to include social and domestic situations, self-esteem, the work environment, and dental health.  Thus it is seen that the consequences of unrepaired tongue tie do not reduce with time – instead, more difficulties are experienced as time passes.

The specific challenges an adult with a tongue tie may face include:

• Inability to open the mouth widely affects speech and eating habits.
• Always having to watch their speech
• Inability to speak clearly when talking fast/loud/soft
• Difficulty talking after even moderate amounts of alcohol
• Clicky jaws
• Pain in the jaws
• Migraine
• Protrusion of the lower jaws, inferior prognathism.
• Multiple effects in work situations.
• Effects on social situations, eating out, kissing, relationships
• Dental health, a tendency to have inflamed gums, and increased need for fillings and extractions
• Sensitivity about personal appearance
• Emotional factors resulting in rising levels of stress
• Tongue tie in the elderly often makes it difficult to keep a denture in place.

To read the full posting regarding tongue tie consequences, please visit TongueTie.net

East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Laser Tongue-Tie Release in an Adult Patient - How the patient feels Post-Op.

Jamie had a severe tongue-tie and had always compensated for her lack of function without realizing it. Three weeks following the laser tongue-tie release, she describes what it was like and how she feels now that her tongue movement is no longer restricted.

The above video is found on the East Berlin Smiles YouTube Channel.

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA