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