Tongue-Tie, Lip-Tie, Frenectomy

A smiling baby

New moms are often stressed and sleep-deprived. The last thing they need is breastfeeding issues. But if a baby has a tongue-tie or lip-tie, they may struggle to latch, causing frustration for both mother and baby.

Fortunately, thanks to modern technology, we can now use precise laser treatments to treat tongue-tie and lip-tie. These treatments provide relief from issues with breastfeeding as well as tongue and lip restrictions, and other concerns related to overall oral health..

Helping Infants

There are many possible reasons that an infant may have breastfeeding difficulties, and a lactation consultant can help solve issues of posture and latching. Sometimes these issues are caused because the baby’s lip or tongue are tethered in a way that causes them to struggle to latch or makes nursing painful. To solve this, we perform a procedure called a frenectomy that releases the lip or tongue attachment.

Helping Mothers

Babies with tongue or lip ties often struggle to latch or breastfeed properly. This can cause breastfeeding to become a painful, miserable experience for mothers. By freeing the tongue or lip with a frenectomy, babies can breastfeed easily. 

Laser Treatment

To complete a frenectomy procedure, we use a highly precise laser that does not emit heat or water. The laser cauterizes as it works, so there is minimal trauma, bleeding, and scar tissue.

Frenectomy

The tissue that connects the lower gums to the tongue and the upper gums to the upper lip is called frenum tissue. Sometimes, this tissue is abnormally sized, affecting oral function, movement, and appearance. To allow for a better range of motion, we perform a frenectomy.

During a frenectomy, we use a light laser to vaporize the frenum. Because the laser sterilizes upon touch, it reduces the chance of infection and stimulates healing. A frenectomy causes minimal discomfort and bleeding; some infants and children sleep through the procedure!

Lingual Frenum

The frenum attached to the tongue is called the lingual frenum. When this is too large, it restricts the tongue’s movement. This can lead to speech impairments, misalignment of teeth, and impaired jaw development.

Labial Frenum

The labial frenum is the frenum attaching the upper gums and center upper lip. When the labial frenum is too large, it can hinder gum tissue development or cause misalignment of teeth, such as a gap between the top middle teeth.

Tongue-Tie

Also called ankyloglossia, a tongue-tie is the restriction of tongue movement due to an abnormally short frenulum. This can cause issues with breastfeeding, hinder adequate swallowing, and cause issues with sticking out your tongue to eat ice cream or catch snowflakes.

Lip-Tie

A lip-tie occurs when an abnormally short frenulum attaches the upper lip to the upper gum. When this happens, a child can suffer from problems with breastfeeding and eating, speech impediments, jaw pain and protrusion, a gap between the teeth, and other oral health issues.

Breastfeeding Solutions

A child with a tongue-tie or lip-tie may struggle with breastfeeding. By performing a frenectomy, we help mothers return to pain-free breastfeeding, healthy nipples and breasts, and increased milk production. When breastfeeding becomes a happy and healthy experience, it allows mother and baby to form a closer bond and ensures that the baby is getting the nutrients it needs to grow and thrive.

Learn More About Tongue-Tie, Lip-Tie, Frenectomy

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