Dr. Chloe MacGowan

About me

I earned my Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Western Ontario in London. As a general dentist, I provide services such as fillings, crowns and bridges, veneers, extractions, and orthodontics including Invisalign.

I welcomed my daughter into this world in March 2021 during the middle of the pandemic. Health care was difficult to access, there were rolling closures of just about everything. In the first few months of her life, my daughter was presenting with a number of symptoms that sounded like tongue tie. Luckily, I knew a very experienced pediatric professor to consult with from dental school. Although all the symptoms sounded like tongue tie, it was not the issue. We later learned that my daughter has many life threatening food allergies. Discovering my daughter's diagnosis was not an easy process. We struggled through nursing difficulties, fussiness, sleepless nights, and multiple medical appointments; however once we discovered the issue and began managing her very serious gastrointestinal issues, her symptoms resolved. I am so grateful that I hadn't undergone tongue tie surgery just because she had a string under her tongue and because we were having so many symptoms which match tongue tie symptoms. I've since learned that there are many common symptoms that many babies can present with and proper diagnosis is key to ensuring success for both mom and baby.

My experience as a mother sparked my interest to learn more. I am currently a member of the Tongue Tie professionals and a Breathe Institute Ambassador. I enjoy seeing infants and investigating what is going on. I believe that tongue tie releases certainly have a place in certain situations, but that not all babies who are suffering with symptoms are suffering from tongue tie related symptoms.

Tongue Tie

Tongue placement and more importantly tongue function, lead to the proper growth and development of the face and its structures. So while I treat tongue ties, I don't believe that everyone has one. More importantly, I understand that patients require support before, during and after tongue tie surgery to ensure the proper function of their tongue, which is the ultimate goal. Structure and function are two different things and changing structure alone (through surgery) without addressing function will rarely be successful. This is why I take a multifaceted approach to treatment. I enjoy providing counseling on the many strategies we can use throughout the lifetime to grow and develop a healthy face and airway.

I look forward to meeting you and your family soon!