A BOOK BY DR. RICHARD BAXTER

TONGUE-TIED

How a Tiny String Under the Tongue
Impacts Nursing, Speech, Feeding, and More

Dr Baxter and participants of the Advanced Live Course holding Dr. Baxter's book.

Common, yet little understood, tongue-ties can lead to a myriad of problems for children in the most crucial and formative parts of their lives. Many parents and professionals want to know what can be done and what the best treatment options are for those suffering with tethered oral tissues.

And now, there are answers.

Aimed at both parents and professionals, Tongue-Tied: How a Tiny String Under the Tongue Impacts Nursing, Feeding, Speech, and More is an exhaustive and informative guide to this misunderstood affliction. Along with a team of medical specialists, author Dr. Richard Baxter demystifies tongue-ties and spells out how this condition can be treated comprehensively, safely, and comfortably.

What experts are saying.

Dr. Baxter and his co-authors have done a remarkable job of tying together all of the current information on tethered oral tissues and their health impact in one place. This publication is the missing link and will help all of us who are involved in comprehensive patient care from newborns through underdiagnosed adults.

 

Martin A. Kaplan
DMD, DABLS

Pediatric Dentist and Director of Laser Dental Surgery for the American Board of Laser Surgery

How refreshing to have a resource for parents and professionals based on clinical expertise and current research! Tongue-Tied is a straight-forward, no-nonsense approach to the influence of tethered oral tissues on both speech and feeding development.

 

Melanie Potock
MA, CCC-SLP

Author of Adventures in Veggieland and co-author of Raising a Healthy Happy Eater

As a surgical specialist and clinical researcher in the area of tethered oral tissues for close to 20 years, I have been waiting for a comprehensive text of this subject. Tongue-Tied is both a welcome addition and long overdue. It should serve as a concise guide for professionals as well as families seeking further knowledge.

 

Scott A. Siegel
MD, DDS, FACS, FICS, FAAP, DABLS

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and Pioneer of Laser Lip- and Tongue-Tie Surgery

Having examined and treated newborns to adults with oral restrictions since the early 1980s, I have never seen such a complete and thorough study of the subject. Dr. Baxter has covered it all! His own personal experience was a great motivator to make this book a must-read for parents, physicians, dentists, lactation consultants, and therapists.

 

Greg Notestine
DDS, AAACD

Founding Member and Past Director, International Affiliation of Tongue-Tie Professionals (IATP)

There can be no greater feeling than to see that I have been able to stimulate individuals like Dr. Baxter to add to the body of knowledge needed to educate the healthcare community as well as parents on the need to have tethered oral tissues evaluated for the many potential problems related to the tongue.

 

Larry Kotlow
DDS

Pioneer and World-Renowned Expert on Tethered Oral Tissues

Tongue-Tied is a revolutionary resource for parents, patients, and professionals alike. Such a detailed, comprehensive, and research-based resource has not existed until now! As a speech-language pathologist and certified orofacial myologist, this will be on the top shelf of my library and will be a resource I recommend to my colleagues, patients, and students.

 

Autumn R. Henning
MS, CCC-SLP, COM

Founder of TOTS Training

Author: Richard Baxter DMD, MS

Dr. Baxter is the author of Tongue-Tied: How a Tiny String Under the Tongue Impacts Nursing, Speech, Feeding, and More and the founder and owner of the Alabama Tongue-Tie Center and Shelby Pediatric Dentistry. He is a nationally celebrated speaker on tongue-ties.

In addition, Dr. Baxter is a board-certified pediatric dentist, Diplomate of the American Board of Laser Surgery, member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Alabama Dental Association, and the American Dental Association.

Dr. Baxter attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry where he graduated at the top of his class. In order to receive a specialty certification in pediatric dentistry, Dr. Baxter attended the residency program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH.

He enjoys spending time with his wife, Tara, who is a nurse practitioner, their twins, Hannah and Noelle, and their youngest daughter, Molly. Since he had a tongue-tie himself and all three of his daughters were treated for tongue- and lip-ties at birth, this field is a personal one.

Close up shot of Dr. Baxter at his clinic

Contributors

Close up image of Tongue Tied Book contributor, Megan Musso

Megan Musso

MA, CCC-SLP

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Megan Musso is a certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and the founder and owner of Magnolia Pediatric Therapy in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Since receiving both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Louisiana State University, she has pursued her passion for pediatric feeding and early intervention.

Megan specializes in treating feeding disorders in infants and children with tethered oral tissues, medically fragile infants, adolescents with special needs, and normally developing children. In her spare time, Megan enjoys a good cup of coffee, traveling with her husband, and coaching track and field at Barbe High School.

Close up image of Tongue Tied Book contributor, Lauren Hughes

Lauren Hughes

MS, CCC-SLP

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Lauren Hughes is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist and owner of Expressions Pediatric Therapy in Birmingham, AL.

She received her master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and has pursued training to further her understanding of feeding, oral motor, speech, and language disorders to provide the best quality services for her clients.

In her free time, Lauren enjoys reading, spending time with friends, watching good movies, and traveling to new places.

Close up image of Tongue Tied Book contributor, Lisa Lahey

Lisa Lahey

RN, IBCLC

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Lisa has worked in maternal/child health as a registered nurse and lactation consultant for 22 years.

An IBCLC for 19 years, Lisa has a special interest in tethered oral tissues and myofunctional therapy and has taken many trainings and courses. Not only does she provide lactation consults and holistic modalities for complex breastfeeding issues in her private practice, Advanced Breastfeeding Care, but she also provides myofunctional assessment and therapy to babies, children and adults in a functional orthodontic office in Indianapolis, IN. She also co-teaches an IBCLC Master Class on tie assessment and oral rehabilitation.

Lisa enjoys traveling with her husband and her five children to National Parks to unplug and enjoy nature.

Close up image of Tongue Tied Book contributor, Michelle Emanuel

Michelle Emanuel

OTR/L, NBCR, CST, CIMI, RYT200

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Michelle is a neonatal/pediatric occupational therapist, national board certified reflexologist, certified craniosacral therapist, certified infant massage instructor, and a registered yoga teacher specializing in the precrawling infant.

For 17 years, Michelle worked at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, in both inpatient/NICU and outpatient/development. During this time, she developed the TummyTime!™ Method (TTM) to address infant motor challenges.

Michelle travels extensively, teaching, mentoring, and certifying professionals in her method, as well as collaborating and co-teaching with other tethered oral tissues (TOTs) professionals. She shares her expertise as a member of the teaching staff for the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy and is in full-time private practice, evaluating and treating babies with cranial nerve dysfunction (CND), TOTs, and oral motor/developmental concerns.

Michelle lives in Cincinnati with her two high school-age daughters and her son, who is in college.

Close up image of Tongue Tied Book contributor, Paula Fabbie

Paula Fabbie

RDH, BS, COM

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Paula Fabbie, RDH, BS, COM (board-certified orofacial myologist) consults, lectures, and writes articles on orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) and how they impact overall health and sleep.

Paula offers a unique perspective on time-proven oral rest posture principles combined with evidenced-based science to assist her patients in achieving myofunctional goals and functional breathing. She operates Paula Fabbie, LLC, where she provides myofunctional services.

Close up image of Tongue Tied Book contributor, Marty Lovvorn

Marty Lovvorn

DC

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Dr. Marty Lovvorn is the founder and lead Gonstead doctor of Precision Chiropractic of Alabama. He is a graduate of Auburn University (B.S.) and Life University (D.C).

Dr. Lovvorn is dedicated to specializing in the world-renowned Gonstead Technique and focuses on pediatric development, pregnancy and prenatal care, athletic injury recovery, and adult health. He is passionate about making a lasting impact through the education and application of principled chiropractic care.

Dr. Lovvorn, his wife, and two children live in Birmingham, AL, where they enjoy outdoor recreational activities and family time.

Cover illustration of Dr. Baxter's Tongue Tied book

We want to hear your thoughts and stories of inspiration.

Please share how the book has impacted your life.

Additional resources for parents & professionals.

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I want my child to be evaluated for a tongue-tie.

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I want to learn about tongue-ties as a parent.

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I want to learn about tongue-ties as a professional.