Restore What Restriction Has Taken Away
RestOralase is a non-surgical approach that combines gentle laser therapy, a hands-on release of the tissue beneath the tongue and, when indicated, custom dental devices to support how you swallow, breathe and sleep.
When most people hear "tongue tie," they picture a tight band under the tongue that a surgeon cuts. But the restriction that limits tongue movement — and quietly disrupts swallowing, sleep, and breathing — often runs much deeper than that visible band. Beneath the tongue, layers of connective tissue can become stiff and dense over time. When those layers lose their ability to glide freely, the tongue cannot lift fully, seal against the roof of the mouth during swallowing, or perform the precise movements that healthy breathing and sleep require.
RestOralase is a non-surgical protocol designed to address that restriction where it begins. It pairs two laser wavelengths with a hands-on tissue release technique and, when indicated, dental devices designed to extend the benefits of the laser therapy — supporting the tongue's freedom of movement and the nervous system that helps regulate sleep.
RestOralase builds on OraLase, a laser sequence created by Dr. Darick Nordstrom, and adds the hands-on release, a second laser wavelength and dental device support for patients with deeper restriction and sleep concerns.
How RestOralase Works
Laser Tissue Preparation
The first step uses a 1064 nm near-infrared laser to gently warm the tissue in the floor of the mouth. A thermal camera monitors the surface temperature throughout, so the warmth stays comfortable and within the intended range before the next step begins. Most patients feel a mild warmth. No injections or anesthesia are typically required.
Progressive Pressure Release
Once the tissue is thermally prepared, the clinician applies gentle, sustained manual pressure to the restricted area using a specialized technique called progressive pressure release (PPRT). Rather than forcing through resistance, the technique follows the tissue's own release — the pressure gradually increases as the softened layers give way, separating the restricted fascia and restoring the tongue's free range of motion. Because the laser has already softened the tissue, less force is needed and the release is more complete and longer-lasting than manual release alone.
The Second Wavelength
A second laser wavelength (2940 nm Er:YAG) is used at a low, comfortable setting on the lips and, for some adults, the soft palate. It feels warm, not hot. There is no cutting, no bleeding and no downtime.
RestOralase vs. Other Approaches
Many patients arrive having tried one piece of the puzzle — surgery, laser treatment for snoring, myofunctional therapy — and are looking for an approach that brings those pieces together. RestOralase is designed to address multiple contributing factors in a single integrated protocol.
Who RestOralase Is For:
Families of babies under two
Babies are cared for with BabyLase, a separate protocol designed specifically for infants and their feeding. To learn more, visit babylase.com.
Children and adults with tongue tie
Whether you are newly diagnosed or have lived with restricted tongue movement for years, RestOralase can restore range of motion that limits speech, swallowing, orthodontic progress, and airway health — without surgery in many cases, or as a complement to surgical release when it is needed.
Adults who snore or have been told they stop breathing at night
RestOralase is designed to work alongside your physician's care and any sleep treatment you already use, supporting the tissues and the nervous system involved in breathing during sleep.
Patients with re-restriction after frenectomy
Surgical tongue tie release sometimes loses ground over time as scar tissue forms and the underlying fascial restriction reasserts itself. RestOralase can address the fascial component non-surgically, restoring mobility that re-tightening has reduced — without requiring a second surgery.
Anyone seeking a comprehensive non-surgical first option
For patients who want to explore what can be achieved non-surgically before committing to a procedure, RestOralase offers a structured, clinically grounded starting point with objective outcome monitoring at every step.
Your RestOralase Appointment
Step 1 — Assessment and baseline
Dr. Tenholder evaluates your tongue's range of motion, the compliance of the floor of mouth tissue on palpation, and the quality of your swallowing pattern. The SWITCH test — a chair-side assessment that reads your body's immediate neuromuscular response — establishes a baseline. A thermal camera image documents your floor of mouth tissue temperature before treatment begins.
Step 2 — Laser tissue preparation
The 1064 nm laser is applied in a gentle scanning motion over the floor of mouth. The thermal camera monitors surface temperature in real time. Treatment continues until the tissue reaches the therapeutic temperature range. This step takes five to ten minutes. Most patients describe mild warmth. No anesthesia is needed.
Step 3 — Progressive pressure release
While the tissue is still warm and pliable from the laser phase, the clinician applies the progressive pressure release technique to the identified restriction zones. The technique follows the tissue's release rather than forcing through it. Most patients are comfortable throughout. The softening created by the laser means the release is gentler and more effective than it would be without preparation.
Step 4 — The second wavelength (when indicated)
If snoring is part of your picture, the 2940 nm laser is applied at a comfortable setting to the lips and soft palate. The treatment takes ten to fifteen minutes. Most patients feel warmth, not heat, and there is no downtime.
Step 5 — Post-treatment SWITCH test
The SWITCH test is repeated immediately after treatment. Comparing the two readings shows how your body responded to treatment, giving both you and Dr. Tenholder real-time feedback before you leave the office.
Q: Does it hurt?
Most patients describe mild warmth during the laser phases. The manual release is generally comfortable because the laser preparation softens the tissue first, meaning less pressure is needed to achieve the release. No injections or anesthesia are typically required.
Q: Is this the same as NightLase?
No. Both use the same type of laser (Er:YAG) on the soft palate, but the settings, the technique and the purpose are different, and RestOralase is a broader protocol. It also includes a 1064 nm laser, a hands-on release of the tissue beneath the tongue and, when indicated, dental devices. For information about NightLase itself, please visit the Fotona website.
Q: Do I still need surgery for my tongue tie?
It depends on your anatomy and the degree of frenular involvement. RestOralase can be a complete non-surgical solution when the primary restriction is in the deep fascial tissue. When surgery is the right choice, RestOralase before the procedure addresses the fascial component that surgery does not reach, and RestOralase after the procedure supports healing and the tissue's freedom of movement as you recover.
Q: How many sessions will I need?
Treatment sequencing and timing are decisions made by your provider, based on your assessment and how your body responds. Dr. Tenholder will recommend a schedule that fits your needs.
Q: Can babies have RestOralase?
RestOralase is for children and adults. Babies under two are cared for with BabyLase, a separate protocol designed specifically for infants. To learn more, visit babylase.com.
Q: What is the SWITCH test?
The SWITCH test is a chair-side assessment developed by Dr. Tenholder that measures your body's immediate neuromuscular response — including swallowing quality, tongue position, jaw muscle tone, posture, and other markers — to changes made inside your mouth. It gives us objective, real-time feedback at each step of your treatment, so we can confirm that the physical work we are doing is producing the functional improvements that matter for your swallowing and sleep. A formal research study of the SWITCH test is underway.
Q: How is RestOralase different from what my other dentist offered?
RestOralase combines laser preparation, a hands-on release of the tissue beneath the tongue, a second wavelength when indicated and dental devices designed to extend the benefits. A SWITCH reading before and after each treatment lets you and Dr. Tenholder see how your body responded.
About RestOralase
RestOralase was developed by Dr. Angie Tenholder, DMD, FAACP, DABCDSM, FAGD, within the NeuralFORM framework. It builds on OraLase, a laser sequence created by Dr. Darick Nordstrom, and extends it with a hands-on release, a second laser wavelength and dental device support to address the full picture of tongue restriction and sleep-disordered breathing.
About the Creator
Dr. Tenholder is a diplomate of the American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine and the creator of NeuralFORM, which looks at sleep and breathing through the nervous system as well as the structure of the airway. RestOralase is one expression of that philosophy: addressing structure, function and the nervous system together, without surgery.
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