Dr Shereen Lim

28/07/2026

Facial tension changes one week after five oral releases

Here are some before and after facial tension changes one week after upper and lower lip, two upper cheek and tongue-tie releases in an 8-week-old.

I’ve been taking lots of photos and videos and studying this area much more closely in the last year.

In the past, I tended to put a lot of tension around the mouth down to overuse or compensation for poor tongue function. But now I am better able to recognise different patterns of facial tension, and can often predict which oral ties are present even before I look in the mouth.

We talk so much about the tongue, but I’m increasingly interested in oral ties beyond the tongue and how they may contribute to facial tension and reduced mobility of the lips and cheeks.

This has implications for latch. How well can a baby open widely, achieve a deep latch and sustain it when the tissues around the mouth are restricted? And what might that mean longer term for facial growth and the development of orthodontic problems?

I’m also noticing that when these tissues are released, parents often report wider mouth opening, more facial expression and more vocalisation.

The more closely I study this, the more I realise what I’ve previously missed. And now I can’t unsee it. I’m going to keep photographing, videoing and studying these changes, and hopefully bring others along on the journey too.

Looking at these before and afters, which side do you think is more likely to achieve a deep latch and have less restriction to facial growth and development?

Disclaimer:
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

27/07/2026

Oral ties beyond the tongue

This is the full interview I recently did with orthodontist Dr Mike DeLuke for the Doc Podcast.

Someone asked me today whether I knew the questions ahead of time.

The honest answer? Not at all.

Dr Mike knew I’d been paying more attention to oral ties beyond the tongue, and this second interview had been framed as more of a catch-up since our last interview. I assumed we’d stay on more neutral ground. I didn’t expect we’d spend so much time exploring an emerging area that is still relatively unfamiliar to many clinicians, particularly in an orthodontic podcast.

Once the record button was off, I felt a slight sense of relief. I’d just spent an hour unpacking ideas I’d never had the opportunity to discuss in that depth on a public platform before, without any preparation and with no idea where the conversation was going.

What struck me the most was my true admiration for Mike’s skill. The conversation was off the cuff, yet he had a fantastic ability to shape the discussion, ask thoughtful questions, share his own reflections, and draw out clear take-home points. He was curious, engaged and engaging, and I really appreciated his willingness to explore this topic so openly with his audience.

I’ve received fantastic feedback not only about the insights that were shared, but also about the quality of the dialogue itself. I think that’s a reflection of Mike’s talent as an interviewer and the space he created for a genuine conversation.

I’m grateful for the opportunity, and I hope others enjoy the discussion too.

Listen on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-doc-podcast/id1689703392?i=1000778014618

https://youtu.be/VK9ggZhKTdg?si=xR9wI7CEHAtjaGFz

In this episode, I'm joined for the second time by Dr. Shereen Lim,...

26/07/2026

Register by Wednesday 13 August to secure your place.

✅ Learn from Dr Justin Roche (paediatrician) and Kate Roche (physiotherapist), both International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), at their only Australian event

✅ Hear from the founders of the National Tongue Tie Centre, Ireland

✅ Gain practical clinical insights from an internationally respected multidisciplinary team

✅ Connect and learn alongside a diverse group of healthcare professionals travelling from across Australia and overseas

WA colleagues, don't miss this one. Let's keep building the kind of community that attracts more world-class education to Perth.

Infant Oral Function and Feeding Masterclass - with Dr Justin and Kate Roche
Link to register:
https://www.trybooking.com/DNKXH

24/07/2026

Want to hear more about why I started paying more attention to other oral ties beyond the tongue tie?

Here's an interview in which I share my journey, the things I could not ignore, and what I hope more colleagues and patients will recognise in the future.

In this episode, I'm joined for the second time by Dr. Shereen Lim,...

23/07/2026

I’m excited to share this interview on my journey discovering more about oral ties beyond tongue tie with orthodontic colleague Dr Mike DeLuke.

New Episode of The DOC Podcast!

More Than the Tongue: Rethinking Oral Ties, Latch, & Facial Development (w/Dr. Shereen Lim) [Ep.166]

In this episode, I'm joined for the second time by Dr. Shereen Lim, an internationally recognized dentist whose work is reshaping how we think about oral tethered tissues and their role in craniofacial growth, airway health, and orthodontic outcomes. Since her first appearance on the show (Episode 34 - link below), Dr. Lim has pushed even further beyond tongue ties, focusing her clinical lens on lip ties, buccal frenum ties, and their profound influence on facial development, maxillary arch constriction, dental crowding, and orthodontic relapse.

This conversation is a masterclass in staying intellectually curious, remaining open to what the evidence in your own practice is telling you, and constantly reassessing your diagnosis and treatment approach as new information emerges.

Timestamps
0:00 – Introduction & episode overview
3:12 – Welcome back: Dr. Lim returns to The DOC Podcast
4:43 – Beyond tongue ties: Dr. Lim's evolving focus on lip and cheek (buccal) ties and their impact on latch, facial tension, and development
8:46 – The lower lip tie discovery: how chin strain and mentalis tension led to a clinical breakthrough
9:55 – Buccal ties, orthodontic relapse, and how cheek tension shapes the dental arch
14:45 – Interdisciplinary collaboration: working with osteopaths, chiropractors, and lactation consultants
15:59 – The emotional weight of realizing what we've missed — and why blinders happen
19:01 – Case study: the patient with severe malocclusion and the tightest cheek ties Dr. Lim has ever seen
22:03 – My talk on why orthodontists resist airway-focused care — and granting colleagues grace
25:44 – Tongue ties without transverse deficiency: how cheek ties may explain the variation
27:36 – V-shaped arches, orthodontic relapse, and the role of perioral restrictions
29:39 – Historical perspective: the Frenkel appliance, lip bumpers, and treating the etiology
33:03 – How to assess what's normal vs. abnormal: signs to look for across infancy, childhood, and adulthood
36:41 – The procedure: CO2 laser technique, team-based approach, and what to expect after releases
39:10 – When outcomes fall short — and why proper pre/post care changes everything
41:34 – A remarkable case: releasing ties in an infant with Down syndrome against specialist advice
44:19 – Challenging the 2020 AAO-HNS consensus statement and the misuse of evidence-based medicine
46:53 – The real value of clinical observation and patient-reported outcomes
50:19 – Pushback on social media vs. trust within the clinical community
52:10 – Functional trainer appliances (Myobrace, Vivos, 2Pill): where they help and where they fall short
56:18 – Post-release comfort: why oral releases may make functional appliances easier to tolerate
57:54 – The journey approach: doing one thing at a time and building confidence incrementally
1:00:46 – Vestibuloplasty technique: releasing multiple sites together for better outcomes
1:03:46 – A message to overwhelmed clinicians: you don't have to do it all at once
1:06:32 – Evidence-based practice in action: what Dr. Lim is actually doing in her clinic
1:07:09 – Where to find Dr. Lim & closing thoughts

This conversation reminded me of why I do this work. Dr. Lim's willingness to look critically at her own outcomes, stay open to what her patients are showing her, and continuously evolve her clinical approach is a model for all of us. Whether you're brand new to airway-focused dentistry or have been in this space for years, I hope this episode leaves you a little more curious, a little more humble, and motivated to ask whether there's a better way to serve the children and families we care for.

LINKS
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-doc-podcast/id1689703392

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6O7VSpbYthwWp6YCIku91t

YouTube: https://youtu.be/VK9ggZhKTdg

YouTube Trailer: https://youtu.be/sRx6n0df7dg

https://youtu.be/sRx6n0df7dg?si=OaN0cXNpxtGLvCVX

LINK TO FULL EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK9ggZhKTdg

19/07/2026

In this video, pediatrician and IBCLC Dr Justin Roche shares insights on posterior tongue-tie including why the terminology may cause confusion.

Join us in Perth next month at Infant Oral Function and Feeding Masterclass - with Dr Justin and Kate Roche for a full day training on an integrative approach to the management of oral ties.

All healthcare professionals welcome.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVOP_9GiJbw/?igsh=dDllb2JjMXkwdWly

17/07/2026

My first 5 oral release patient : 10.5 month post release update

This patient holds a special place in my journey learning more about the impact of oral restrictions.

She was the very first patient on whom I performed five oral releases in a single visit - tongue, upper lip, lower lip and bilateral upper cheek ties.

At the time, I was already releasing tongue ties and upper and lower lip ties, but I decided to include her cheek ties as well due to local recession of the gums on both sides.

She was memorable not simply because she was a first, but because she helped me pay much closer attention and opened up a rabbit hole of new observations and insights in the hundreds of patients I have seen since.

Following her cheek tie releases, she described a release of tension extending through her cheeks towards her ears, along with changes in her sinus symptoms. Her observations made me look more closely at the role cheek ties may play in facial tension. I have since had a handful of patients report significant changes in their nasal and sinus symptoms following cheek tie release.

She was also one of the first patients who made me think more deeply about lower lip ties. Over time, I have become increasingly interested in the relationship between significant chin tension, lower lip restriction, shoulder and neck tension, and a person's overall sense of ease and comfort. In some patients, the lower lip release has proven to be the most impactful release performed.

Since treating this patient, I have gone on to perform a high volume of oral releases involving five or more restrictions across infants, children and adults, while closely studying before and after changes in facial tension on photos and videos.

The feedback from patients and collaborative colleagues has made me think and see differently. These days, I think we often attribute too much to tongue tie alone and not enough to the influence of facial tension and other oral restrictions.

I have become increasingly interested in how tension within the lips, cheeks and surrounding facial structures may influence latch, jaw and facial development, stability of orthodontic results, face and body tension patterns, and more.

This video, recorded today, 10.5 months after her five oral releases, offers her reflections on the changes she experienced, many of which had little to do with the tongue itself.

I'm so grateful for the role she has played in my journey, and for her willingness to share parts of her own journey at various stages so that others can learn from it too.

Disclaimer:

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

15/07/2026

In this video, I share more about Infant Oral Function and Feeding Masterclass - with Dr Justin and Kate Roche and why I’m excited about it.

It takes place Saturday 22nd August - UWA Club.

There’s approximately 4 weeks before registration closes.

I am encouraging all Perth and regional collaborators and those with an interest in tongue tie management to join and help spread the word.

Colleagues from interstate and overseas are also warmly welcomed.

We are going to have a great day learning together!

Registration link:
https://www.trybooking.com/DNKXH

https://youtu.be/eIztGY_trso?si=-RAsL7VHOuUo5vvM

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

14/07/2026

We are looking for an experienced Dental Assistant to join the team at Sparkle.

This role will primarily involve working alongside me, supporting infants, children and adults in areas such as oral function, tongue tie management and orthodontic care. There will also be opportunities to work with other clinicians and maintain exposure to a broad range of dentistry.

This role will particularly suit someone who has built strong skills and experience, but is looking for a new challenge, greater variety, and the opportunity to learn new things.

More information is available in the SEEK advertisement below.

If someone comes to mind, I'd love you to share this with them.

Are you an experienced Dental Assistant ready for your next challenge?

14/07/2026

Meet Louisa Lee, a friend, connector and builder of airway health professional communities! 🇸🇬

For a while she has wanted to record a series of interviews with authors of books promoting airway health.

I’m pleased to help her kick off her new book club series as the first author!

Join us live online Wed 15th July at 7pm Perth/Singapore time.

Progressive Practice Book Club Series

Session #1
Date: 15 July 2026
Time: 7pm Singapore time
On Zoom

An Evening with Dr. Shereen Lim
Exploring Breathe, Sleep, Thrive

What inspired one of Australia’s leading airway-focused dentists to write Breathe, Sleep, Thrive?

Join us for the inaugural Progressive Practice Book Club as we go beyond the pages of the book and into an engaging conversation with Dr. Shereen Lim. Together, we’ll explore the science, philosophy, and real-world clinical experiences that have shaped her approach to airway health.

Whether you are new to airway dentistry or already integrating airway concepts into your practice, this session will provide valuable insights into early intervention, interdisciplinary care, patient communication, and the future of airway-focused dentistry.

Expect an honest discussion on what the book couldn’t fully capture—including clinical lessons learned, implementation challenges, and advice for practitioners looking to build an airway-centred practice.

Who should attend?

* Dentists
* Orthodontists
* Paediatric dentists
* Dental therapists and hygienists
* Sleep physicians and allied health professionals
* Dental students and practitioners interested in airway health

Come ready to learn, ask questions, and be inspired by the people who are shaping the future of healthcare—one book at a time.

Register for the link to join:
https://ntzhm.share.hsforms.com/2scA5w1rBSDGu44CJS_1DRg