Lip and Tongue-Tie –Duncanville, TX
Early Diagnosis and Treatment For Lip and Tongue-Tie
Lip and tongue-tie are fairly common in infants and children and can have surprising consequences for their oral and overall health. By bringing your child to Barefield Pediatric Dentistry for regular checkups (starting around age 1) you can rest easy knowing that this condition will be found early on. When necessary, we’ll recommend a simple, effective procedure called a frenectomy that enables your child to eat, speak, and smile with confidence. Learn more below about lip and tongue-tie in Duncanville and how easy treatment is. And don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or want to schedule a visit for your child. With outstanding care from our team, your child can look forward to a lifetime of healthy, happy smiles.
What Are Lip and Tongue-Tie?
Everyone has a frenulum, or strip of soft tissue, that attaches their tongue to the floor of their mouth. There’s also a frenulum that runs between the lips and the gums. Ideally, this tissue is long and “loose” enough to allow the lips and tongue to move freely. But, in some cases, the frenulum is too short or tight and prevents the lips and tongue from moving normally.
Also called ‘ankyloglossia’, tongue-tie affects an estimated 4%-11% of newborn babies, more often boys than girls. Signs and symptoms include a heart-shaped or notched tongue and trouble breast-feeding or gaining weight in infancy. Toddlers may have difficulty sticking their tongue past the bottom front teeth, moving it from side to side, or reaching their top teeth with it.
The Consequences of Lip and Tongue-Tie
Unfortunately, lip and tongue-tie can lead to several serious problems for infants and children, including:
- Breast-feeding difficulty such as not being able to latch on
- Not getting enough milk to gain adequate weight
- Not being able to use a bottle
- Language delays or speech impediments
- Trouble swallowing or eating certain foods
- Bite alignment issues that require orthodontics later on
In addition, untreated lip and tongue-tie in adults can cause trouble sleeping, anxiety, digestive disorders, and jaw pain or TMJ disorder.
How Is Lip and Tongue-Tie Treated?
If we diagnose lip or tongue-tie in your child, we’ll start by evaluating whether treatment is necessary or not. In some cases, the frenulum loosens over time and tongue-tie resolves on its own (generally by age 2 or 3). In more severe cases, a simple and effective treatment called a frenectomy can be done to prevent all of the issues mentioned above.
This small surgical procedure is fast and easy. It’s done in just minutes and involves using sterile scissors to “snip” the frenulum, allowing the tongue or lips to move freely. And since there aren’t many nerve endings in the frenulum, it’s practically painless. In fact, in some cases it can be done without numbing the area. In others, we may recommend anesthesia or sedation to make the procedure as smooth as possible for your child.
Lip and tongue-tie can lead to serious problems. But with a frenectomy in Duncanville, we can help kids avoid these issues altogether. If you suspect your child has lip or tongue-tie, give us a call today. Our team of highly-trained pediatric dentists provides comfortable care in a kid-friendly environment to give children a healthy smile from the start.
Lip & Tongue-Tie FAQs
How Should I Prepare My Baby for a Frenectomy?
Since frenectomies tend to be simple treatments, there’s not much you’ll have to do to prepare your little one for their appointment. We do recommend feeding them about an hour or so beforehand, though. That way, they’ll be just a little hungry after their treatment and will be willing to eat.
There are some exercises you can do with your little one to help them adjust to their freed mouth movement. In the day or two leading up to their appointment, you can place a (clean) finger on their tongue and let them suck on it for a few moments. Then slowly and gently pull your finger away. This will help them practice suction with their tongue. By moving your finger along their lower gums, meanwhile, they’ll become more accustomed to moving their tongue from side to side.
Does a Frenectomy Hurt?
Your child might experience some soreness for a day or two after their frenectomy, but during their treatment, we’ll administer a local anesthetic to numb their mouth. This way, they won’t feel pain or sharpness once we release their lip or tongue tie. They may be confused or startled (which is understandable given the circumstances) but shouldn’t experience any physical distress.
Our team would be happy to recommend OTC pain relievers to help manage your child’s soreness after their frenectomy.
Is My Child Old Enough to Get Lip or Tongue-Tie Treatment?
We understand that the thought of an infant going through any type of treatment can be nerve-wracking. Rest assured, frenectomies are considered safe for children of all ages, and can even be performed a few days after birth. In fact, most experts recommend releasing lip or tongue ties as soon as possible so that the tie doesn’t significantly impact oral development or breast feeding.
How Will You Keep My Baby Still for the Frenectomy?
The last thing we want is for a frenectomy to be unpleasant for your baby. At the same time, they can be quite wiggly, and we also want them to be safe. Fortunately, a gentle swaddle is usually all that’s needed to keep them still. We’ll be able to work with precision and care, and your baby will be both comfortable and secure.
Can I Be in the Room During My Child’s Frenectomy?
We typically don’t recommend this. Watching a frenectomy can be stressful for some caretakers, and our team will need to be fully focused on your child and their treatment. Rest assured, this helps ensure the safety and comfort of your little one, as well as the success of their frenectomy. As soon as we release the last tie, we’ll call you back into the room so you can see your child.