Advancements in A Functional Approach to Tongue-Tie, Myofunctional Therapy, and Tongue Space: Insights from 7 Years of Clinical Research and Practice

Abstract:

This in-depth session invites clinicians and researchers to explore the evolving landscape of functional approaches to tongue-tie, nasal breathing, oral posture, and tongue space. Grounded in years of clinical data, interdisciplinary collaboration, and surgical refinement, we’ll examine the shift from symptom management to root-cause resolution.

Topics include innovations in diagnostic screening, criteria for surgical candidacy, techniques in lingual frenuloplasty, integration with myofunctional therapy and cranial work, and the long-term impact on maxillofacial growth and airway development. Attendees will leave with practical tools and evidence-based strategies to optimize outcomes across a wide range of clinical presentations—from childhood through adulthood.

Learning Objectives – Breakout Session:

1. Describe how the clinical understanding and treatment of tongue-tie has evolved, especially in relation to tongue space, maxillary development, and interdisciplinary therapy.

2. Learn updated screening and assessment tools to evaluate oral restrictions in the context of whole-body function.

3. Integrate functional frenuloplasty, myofunctional therapy, and collaborative care into clinical protocols to improve airway, speech, feeding, and sleep outcomes.

Dr. Soroush Zaghi graduated from Harvard Medical School, completed residency in ENT (Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery) at UCLA, and Sleep Surgery Fellowship at Stanford University. He now serves as medical director of The Breathe Institute where the focus of his sub-specialty training is on the comprehensive treatment of nasal obstruction, mouth breathing, snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea in children and adults. He is very active in clinical research with over 97+ peer-reviewed research publications in the fields of neuroscience, head and neck surgery, myofunctional therapy, sleep-disordered breathing, and tongue-tie surgery.