Tongue and Lip Tie Release at PVPD Scottsdale
Tongue and lip tie release is a relatively simple surgical procedure that can significantly impact the lives of infants and young children. This condition occurs when the frenulum, a small piece of tissue that connects the tongue or lip to the mouth, is too tight or thick.
This can cause nursing or bottle-feeding difficulties, speech development issues, and even risks to dental health. The procedure uses lasers or scissors to snip the frenulum, freeing up the tongue or lip to move more freely. The process is also known as Frenotomy.
If your child experiences feeding or speech difficulties, consider talking to a pediatrician or dentist about whether tongue and lip tie release could solve the issues.
Symptoms of Tongue and Lip Tie in Infants
As a new parent, obsessing over every aspect of your baby’s health is normal. One common issue many parents may not be aware of is tongue and lip tie, which can affect a baby’s ability to breastfeed properly.
Symptoms of tongue tie can include
- Difficulty latching
- Poor weight gain
- Excessive drooling
- Difficulty in breathing while feeding
It’s important to be aware of these issues and talk to your pediatrician if your baby struggles with tongue or lip tie. With proper treatment, such as laser surgery, babies can quickly improve their feeding and thrive.
The Benefits of Tongue and Lip Tie Release
Some common benefits of lip tie release include
Improved Breastfeeding
One of the most common reasons parents choose to have their child’s tongue tie or lip tie released is to improve breastfeeding.
Tongue and lip ties can cause difficulty with latching and sucking, leading to poor milk transfer and low milk supply.
Additionally, tongue ties can cause pain for the nursing mother. Release of the tongue tie or lip tie can help improve latch and suck and increase milk transfer and production.
Improved Speech
Another common benefit of releasing a tongue or lip tie is to improve speech. Both tongue tie and lip ties can cause problems with articulation and difficulty making certain sounds.
Speech therapy can help address these issues, but releasing the tongue or lip tie can also be beneficial.
Reduced Risk of Dental Issues
Tongue and lip ties can also lead to dental problems, such as an overbite or open bite. This is because the tongue cannot move properly, which can cause the teeth to become misaligned.
Moreover, it can also cause tooth decay by food or bacteria buildup in teeth because of the upper lip.
The Risks Involved in the Procedure
Tongue and lip tie release is a minimally invasive procedure, but some common risks associated with tongue and lip tie release include bleeding, infection, scarring, and damage to surrounding tissue.
In rare cases, the procedure can even result in nerve damage, leading to long-term complications.
With proper preparation and a skilled pediatric dentist, tongue and lip tie release risks can be minimized.
Therefore, In order to keep these risks at bay, it is advised to use Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics Scottsdale to get your baby’s tongue and lip tie released!
