Wait What? Another Provider? Why You Were Referred to Lingua Speech, Swallow, and Voice Services

Wait What? Another Provider? Why You Were Referred to Lingua Speech, Swallow, and Voice Services—And Why It Matters

You went to your doctor. You went to a dentist. You went to an ENT. Now they want you to see us at Lingua Speech, Swallow, and Voice Services. But why?

If you or your child has been recommended for a frenectomy, you might be wondering:

✔ Why is oral myofunctional therapy at Lingua apart of this process?

✔ Is an evaluation and therapy necessary if procedure has already been suggested?

At Lingua Speech, Swallow, and Voice Services, we work with both adults and children to improve function, decrease compensation, and make sure we are improving eating, breathing, sleeping, or speaking—because a frenectomy alone doesn’t guarantee success.

Instead of focusing just on anatomy, we assess and treat the way the tongue, lips, and jaw work together along with the neck and the diaphragm ensuring better outcomes.

More Than Just a Procedure—It’s About Function

Many patients—whether infants, children, or adults—compensate in ways they don’t realize when restricted tongue movement causes issues. In infants this could look like head preference or torticollis. With children, it may look like abnormal face development. And with adults, typically it is jaw pain, poor sleep, and the classic snore city. You may have been told procedure is necessary, but without proper therapy, the body may continue dysfunctional habits even after the procedure. Just because the tongue or lip is procedurally altered, doesn't mean your baby will feed better, your child will speak better, or as an adult you will breathe better.

Through comprehensive evaluation and therapy, we:

✔ Identify compensations—Is the body overworking to complete simple tasks like swallowing, speaking, or breathing?

✔ Improve oral function and coordination—Strengthening the tongue, lips, and facial muscles ensures better post-op recovery.

✔ Prepare patients for procedure(if needed)—Therapy before and after a frenectomy helps maximize results and prevents complications. Do you know how to support the open wound that will be in yours or your babys mouth? We do! We will teach you everything you need to be successful.

Whether you are an adult experiencing tongue mobility restrictions, or a parent navigating recommendations for your child, we help you understand your options before making a decision.

Frustrated by Conflicting Advice? You’re Not Alone.

A mother in the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre area recently shared her experience. Her pediatrician told her that her baby needed a frenectomy, so she was sent to a dentist. The dentist sent her to us...but she wasn’t sure why oral myofunctional therapy was recommended. Since her baby seemed to be eating good enough but had significant reflux, gas, and discomfort, she didn’t understand why she should pay extra for therapy if the tie was identified and procedure was already suggested. Welp, because first, the reflux, gas, and discomfort is likely caused from the oral function that is presenting. And second, there is a thing called " optimal timing release" . A rushed frenectomy without proper evaluation and therapy can lead to persistent oral dysfunction. That's why working with specialists—like at Lingua Speech, Swallow, and Voice Services—ensures surgery happens at the right time for the best results.

For adults, confusion happens too—many individuals grow up compensating for restricted tongue movement without realizing it. Issues like speech difficulties, TMJ pain, sleep apnea, and swallowing challenges may have never been properly assessed until they were referred for a frenectomy.

Medical recommendations can feel overwhelming, especially when different providers suggest varying approaches. That’s why Lingua Speech, Swallow, and Voice Services focuses on function before surgery, ensuring the best possible outcome.

What Are Your Next Steps?

✔ Feel empowered and ate ease—Education is power. A short blog like this boost your understanding of the oral myofunctional field.

✔ Schedule an evaluation—Because understanding function before frenectomy sets patients of all ages up for success

✔ Ask questions! We help you navigate your options with clarity and confidence.

Ready to learn more? Contact Lingua Speech, Swallow, and Voice Services today!

Book an Appointment

Oral function is most important when considering a frenectomy.