When is the best time for tongue-tie surgery?

If surgery is judged necessary, the earlier it is done the simpler the procedure. In newborns and infants a few months old the frenulum is thin, so it often ends with a simple incision that keeps the anesthetic burden to a minimum. Once a child is older, nitrous oxide sedation or general anesthesia may be needed depending on how well they cooperate. When the decision rests on speech, it is usual to assess around age 4, when tongue sounds settle. However, an infant having trouble feeding should be seen quickly regardless of age.