Laser-Focused on Our Littlest Patients
The Procedure
Tongue and lip tie correction is also called a frenectomy. Our pediatric dentists at our Athens and Hamilton Mill locations perform frenectomies with a focus on keeping your child safe and comfortable, using a laser to make a simple, precise incision to corrects tongue and lip ties.
This simple procedure treats a variety of problems with the gums, tongue, lips, and lining of the mouth. This includes repositioning frenum pulls between the front teeth, correcting tongue or lip ties, and healing canker sores (aphthous ulcers). All of these concerns are easily and quickly repaired with a very precise beam of light, minimizing stress on even the youngest patients – and their parents! Some patients may not even require sedation.
Contact us today to schedule your child’s complimentary consultation with one of our dentists!
The Benefits
Laser correction reduces the risk of post-operative bleeding or infection and ensures a much quicker recovery. In fact, most infants are able to feed immediately after the procedure. While some mothers notice an improvement right away, it often takes children some time to retrain their brain, lips, and tongue to function properly. Be patient and be sure to follow through with any recommended stretching exercises or follow-ups with the appropriate specialist (lactation consultant, speech therapist, etc.).
A frenectomy offers lifelong benefits for patients with tongue or lip ties. For infants, increased mobility of the tongue and lip improves nursing and bottle feeding. And as children grow, it also makes eating, drinking, speaking, and smiling easier!
Effects of a Tongue or Lip Tie on Development
Symptoms of a tongue tie infant during breastfeeding and bottle feeding include:
- Inability to latch
- Unsustained latch
- Poor endurance
- Excessive gas/hiccups
- Constant nursing
- Gagging
- Poor weight gain
For toddlers eating solid food, symptoms include:
- Choking while eating
- Poor weight gain
- Diet selectivity (soft food only)
- Poor lip closing
- Grazing
- Inability to consume age-appropriate foods
For children learning to speak:
- Frustration with communication
- Inability to produce certain sounds
- Avoidance of certain words
- Unwillingness to speak
You may also notice the following dental/oral effects:
- Lower teeth inverted
- Diastema (space) between upper and lower front permanent teeth
- Tooth decay due to inability to move lip for adequate toothbrush placement
- Open bite
To learn more about laser correction for tongue and lip ties, get in touch with our office today!