LIVE COURSE IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
Tongue-Tied Academy Live 2027: A Team Approach to Tongue-Tie
A one-day live course with Dr. Richard Baxter and Robyn Merkel-Walsh, SLP
Saturday, March 6, 2027
Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa, Birmingham, Alabama
8:30 AM to 4:00 PM (check-in at 7:30 AM, breakfast at 8:00 AM)
Attendees receive a certificate of attendance.
ADA CERP Dental CE | IBLCE CERPs (pending) | Physician & SLP CE coming soon
About the Course
A one-day course for dentists, hygienists, physicians, NPs and PAs, chiropractors, SLPs, OTs, PTs, and lactation consultants. Dr. Richard Baxter, author of Tongue-Tied and instructor of Tongue-Tied Academy, has performed more than 16,000 tongue- and lip-tie releases. He teams up with speech-language pathologist Robyn Merkel-Walsh, MA, CCC-SLP, COM® to cover assessment, symptoms from infancy through adulthood, current research, therapy, release technique, and aftercare, with real cases and a focus on working together as a team.
Tongue-tie and lip-tie are getting more attention than ever, and with that comes confusion. Some patients are released who did not need it, while others struggle for years before anyone looks at how their tongue functions. This course gives the whole care team a shared, practical framework.
Dr. Richard Baxter, a pediatric dentist and author of Tongue-Tied, and Robyn Merkel-Walsh, MA, CCC-SLP, COM®, will walk through anatomy and classification, function-based assessment, and how restricted oral tissues can affect breastfeeding, bottle feeding, solid foods, speech, sleep and breathing, dental development, and posture. They will review research published through 2026, compare laser and scissor release, and explain how therapy before and after release supports better outcomes. The day closes with case studies and a joint panel on when to treat, when to wait, and how to build referral relationships that serve patients well.
Who It’s For
This course is for the whole care team:
- Dentists and Dental Hygienists
- Physicians, NPs, and PAs
- Chiropractors
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Occupational and Physical Therapists
- Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs)
Your Speakers
Richard Baxter, DMD, MS, FAAPD
Pediatric Dentist, Alabama Tongue-Tie Center
Dr. Richard Baxter is a board-certified pediatric dentist, Fellow of the AAPD, and Diplomate of the American Board of Laser Surgery. He is an internationally recognized speaker on tongue-ties, instructor of the acclaimed online course Tongue-Tied Academy, and lead author of the bestselling book Tongue-Tied: How a Tiny String Under the Tongue Impacts Nursing, Speech, Feeding, and More. He is passionate about educating parents and healthcare providers about the effects a tongue-tie can have throughout the lifespan.
Read more
He lives in Birmingham, AL, with his wife, Tara, and their three girls, Hannah, Noelle, and Molly. He is the founder of the Alabama Tongue-Tie Center, where he uses the CO2 laser to release oral restrictions. He had a tongue-tie himself, and all of his girls were treated as infants, so this field is a personal one. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, running, and outdoor activities. He is a Small Group Leader at the Church at Brook Hills and participates in global missions projects around the world.
Robyn Merkel-Walsh, MA, CCC-SLP, COM®
Speech-Language Pathologist, Diamond MYO & Vocology
Robyn Merkel-Walsh is a licensed speech-language pathologist, Certified Orofacial Myologist®, and vocologist with three decades of experience in orofacial myofunctional, feeding, and motor speech disorders. She is a consultant, lecturer, and product developer for TalkTools®, serves on the guest faculty of The Breathe Institute, and is co-author, with Lori Overland, of Functional Assessment and Remediation of TOTs (Tethered Oral Tissues).
Read more
She runs a private practice, Diamond MYO & Vocology, in Ridgefield, NJ, where she specializes in oral-placement, feeding, and orofacial myofunctional disorders. Her work has been published in the International Journal of Orofacial Myology and Myofunctional Therapy, Clinical Pediatrics, and the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, and she has taught courses at Brescia University and Bergen Community College. She is passionate about parent training, professional mentoring, and advancing the standard of care for people with oral motor and feeding challenges.
Learner Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify three assessment considerations for tongue-tie and lip-tie.
- Differentiate conservative and surgical treatment approaches.
- Apply interdisciplinary decision-making to clinical case scenarios.
Agenda
-
7:30 AMCheck-in
-
8:00 to 8:30 AMBreakfast and Networking
-
8:30 to 9:15 AMUnderstanding Tongue-Tie & Lip-Tie in 2027:
- Terminology
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Prevalence
- Controversies
- Evolving Clinical Perspectives
-
9:15 to 10:15 AMAssessment & Differential Diagnosis
- Structural and Functional Assessment
- Classification Systems
- Available Tools
- Clinical Signs & Symptoms
- Interdisciplinary Evaluation
-
10:15 to 10:30 AMBreak
-
10:30 to 11:30 AMInfant Feeding & Breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding Challenges
- Bottle-Feeding Considerations
- Functional Assessment: Quantitative And Qualitative Measurements
- Conservative Management
- Indications for Surgical Intervention
-
11:30 AM to 12:30 PMLunch
-
12:30 to 1:30 PMFunctional Challenges Beyond the Breast
- Airway, Oral Rest Posture & Sleep
- Feeding & Swallowing
- Speech & Voice
-
1:30 to 2:25 PMTreatment Decisions & Surgical Considerations
- Indications & Contraindications
- Frenotomy Versus Frenectomy
- Surgical Techniques & Tools
- Informed Consent
- Shared Decision-Making
-
2:25 to 2:40 PMBreak
-
2:40 to 3:20 PMPre/Postoperative Management
- Team Roles
- Patient Preparation
- Wound Healing & Aftercare
- Habilitation
- Outcome Measurement
-
3:20 to 3:40 PMClinical Case Studies & Team Decision-Making
- Infant
- Pediatric
- Adolescent
- Adults
- Special Needs
-
3:40 to 3:50 PMConclusions & Clinical Takeaways
- Summary Of Evidence
- Clinical Implications
- Future Directions
-
3:50 to 4:00 PMQuestions & Answers
Total Instructional Time: 360 min
Attendees receive a certificate of attendance. ADA CERP Dental CE | IBLCE CERPs (pending) | Physician & SLP CE coming soon.
Your Plan in 3 Simple Steps
1
Register
Register before early bird pricing ends January 15, 2027.
2
Attend
Join us in Birmingham on Saturday, March 6, 2027.
3
Apply with your team
Bring a shared framework for assessment, treatment, and referrals back to your care team.
Tuition, Venue & Details
Tuition
Dentists, Physicians, NPs, PAs, and Chiropractors
Dental Hygienists, SLPs, OTs, PTs, and Lactation Consultants
Have a coupon code? Enter it at checkout.
Cancellation and refunds
- 30 or more days before the course: full refund
- 14 to 29 days before the course: half refund
- Less than 14 days before the course: no refund
Venue and Logistics
Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa
4000 Grand Avenue
Birmingham, AL 35226
- Date: Saturday, March 6, 2027
- Check-in: 7:30 AM
- Breakfast: 8:00 AM
- Course: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with lunch (11:30 to 12:30 PM) and two 15-minute breaks
- Format: Lecture only. There is no hands-on portion.
- Meals: Continental breakfast with orange juice, coffee, and tea, and a buffet lunch with coffee, iced water, and sweet and unsweet tea, are included.
- Continuing education: Attendees receive a certificate of attendance. ADA CERP Dental CE | IBLCE CERPs (pending) | Physician & SLP CE coming soon.
- Parking: Free self-parking for attendees.
- Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi for attendees.
- Lodging: The course is held at the resort. Attendees can book rooms directly with the hotel.
You might still be wondering…
Which rate do I pay?
Dentists, physicians, NPs, PAs, and chiropractors register at the doctor rate. Dental hygienists, SLPs, OTs, PTs, and lactation consultants register at the therapist rate.
What if I need to cancel?
If you cancel 30 or more days before the course, you get a full refund. If you cancel 14 to 29 days before, you get a half refund. No refunds are given within 14 days of the course (March 6, 2027).
Are meals included?
Yes. Breakfast starts at 8:00 AM and is a continental breakfast with orange juice, coffee, and tea. Lunch, from 11:30 to 12:30 PM, is a buffet with coffee, iced water, and sweet and unsweet tea.
Is there a hands-on portion?
No. The course is lecture only.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. Attendees receive a certificate of attendance. ADA CERP Dental CE | IBLCE CERPs (pending) | Physician & SLP CE coming soon.
Join us in Birmingham on March 6, 2027.
Spend a day learning alongside dentists, hygienists, physicians, NPs and PAs, chiropractors, SLPs, OTs, PTs, and lactation consultants, and leave with a shared framework for assessment, treatment, and referrals.
Early bird pricing ends January 15, 2027.
Questions? Contact: info@tonguetie.com
Special accommodation requests may be made during registration, or you may inquire about special accommodations prior to registering by contacting 205-419-4333 or info@tonguetie.com. Satisfactory completion of this course includes attendance and completion of learner assessment and course evaluation.