Dr. Justin
Roche
MB ChB | FRCPCH | FRCPI | IBCLC
Medical Director & Co-Founder
National Tongue Tie Centre • Clonmel & Naas
"Tongue tie is rarely a single-system problem. Lasting outcomes come from understanding the whole child, the whole family, and the whole feeding relationship."
Dr. Justin Roche is a Consultant Paediatrician, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and the Medical Director and Co-Founder of the National Tongue Tie Centre. His clinical practice sits at the intersection of paediatric medicine, airway health, and functional feeding, bringing a depth of medical expertise that is rare in this specialist field.
Justin holds dual fellowship of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (FRCPCH) and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (FRCPI), and his postgraduate training has spanned paediatric medicine, infant feeding, CO2 laser surgery, and airway-centred paediatric care. He is a Fellow of the American Laser Study Club and a Breathe Ambassador since 2019, reflecting his long-standing commitment to the role of nasal breathing and myofunctional health in paediatric development.
As a former board member of ICAP (the International Consortium of Airway Professionals), Justin has been actively involved in shaping clinical standards and education at an international level. He performs CO2 laser functional frenuloplasty and frenectomy procedures at both NTTC clinic sites, working collaboratively with Kate and the wider clinical team to deliver fully integrated, multidisciplinary care.
Justin is a committed researcher, educator, and advocate. He was a member of the writing group for the Tongue Time 2026 Consensus Statement, has presented at major international congresses, and has been instrumental in developing the NTTC's CPD education programmes for clinicians across Europe and beyond.
Areas of Specialist Practice
Consultant Paediatrics
Broad paediatric medical assessment and management with specialist focus on newborn, infant, and child feeding, growth, and development.
CO2 Laser Frenuloplasty
Functional frenuloplasty and frenectomy using CO2 laser technology, with a precision surgical approach that prioritises functional outcomes and post-procedure rehabilitation.
Ankyloglossia Assessment
Comprehensive functional and anatomical assessment of tongue tie across all age groups, from neonates to adults, using validated clinical tools and outcome measures.
Clinician Education
CPD course development and delivery for medical and allied health professionals, covering surgical technique, patient selection, and evidence-based management of tethered oral tissues.
Academic & Professional Qualifications
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MB ChB Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
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FRCPCH Fellow, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
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FRCPI Fellow, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
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IBCLC International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
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Fellow, American Laser Study Club Fellowship in CO2 laser surgical techniques
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Breathe Ambassador Recognised since 2019
Roles & Affiliations
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Medical Director & Co-Founder National Tongue Tie Centre, Ireland (2007 to present)
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Former Board Member ICAP (International Consortium of Airway Professionals)
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Consensus Statement Writing Group Tongue Time 2026 International Congress, St. Gallen, Switzerland
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Consultant Paediatrician Specialist paediatric clinical practice, Tipperary & Kildare
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CPD Course Director Tongue Tie Toolbox professional education platform
Breathe
Ambassador
Airway-Centred Paediatric Care
Justin's designation as a Breathe Ambassador since 2019 reflects a core clinical conviction: that how a child breathes has profound consequences for how they feed, sleep, grow, and develop. Nasal breathing, myofunctional health, and upper airway patency are not peripheral concerns in paediatrics. They are central to long-term wellbeing.
This perspective shapes every assessment at the NTTC. Tongue tie treatment is not simply about the frenum. It is about restoring the full functional arc of oral health, from tongue mobility through to nasal breathing, airway development, and sleep quality. Justin's work in this area draws on the latest evidence from airway medicine, sleep medicine, and myofunctional therapy, integrated with the multidisciplinary NTTC clinical model.
Conferences & Presentations
Tongue Time International Congress
St. Gallen, Switzerland — 600+ delegates from 45 countries. Presenter and Consensus Statement writing group member.
Newstalk Lunchtime Live
National radio broadcast discussing tongue tie, infant feeding, and the NTTC clinical approach.
Tongue Tie Experts Podcast
Episode 100 — International podcast for tongue tie specialists.
ICAP & American Laser Study Club
Multiple international presentations on CO2 laser frenuloplasty, airway medicine, and multidisciplinary tongue tie management.
Tongue Tie Toolbox
Justin co-created the Tongue Tie Toolbox to deliver rigorous, clinician-led education for healthcare professionals. Courses are developed from real clinical practice, structured for busy clinicians, and designed to build confident, evidence-based competency in tongue tie assessment and treatment.
Feeding & Therapy
Clinical assessment, treatment planning, and rehabilitation for feeding dysfunction in the context of tethered oral tissues. Co-developed with Kate Roche.
Frenectomy
Clinical education on frenectomy procedures, patient selection, consent frameworks, and evidence-based post-operative management.
Frenuloplasty
Comprehensive clinical education on CO2 laser frenuloplasty technique, patient selection, and evidence-based post-procedure rehabilitation.
Explore the full Tongue Tie Toolbox platform including membership, parent guides, and CPD resources
Visit Tongue Tie Toolbox →In the Media
Newstalk Lunchtime Live
National broadcast — Tongue tie and infant feeding — May 2025
Tipp FM
Regional broadcast on tongue tie awareness — January 2020
Tongue Tie Experts Podcast
Episode 100 — Early 2025
Irish Medical Times
Editorial response to RCPI Faculty of Paediatrics consensus statement on ankyloglossia
Tongue Time 2026 Consensus Statement
Writing group member — International consensus on ankyloglossia assessment and management
Irish Enterprise Awards 2026
Best Multidisciplinary Tongue Tie Treatment Centre 2026
