Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment – Lewisville, TX
Freedom for Your Child’s Oral Tissues
A lip or tongue tie can make it difficult for your child to properly move certain parts of their mouth. In turn, this can lead to numerous complications, such as feeding difficulties, impeded speech development, and more. Fortunately, our Lewisville dental team is here to help. Dr. Jayswal uses a soft tissue laser to perform minimally invasive lip and tongue tie treatment, which can provide freedom for your child’s oral tissues and support their long-term wellness.
Why Choose Nexus Dental of Lewisville for Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment?
- Precise & Comfortable Soft Tissue Laser
- Improved Feeding and Other Benefits
- Friendly and Knowledgeable Dental Team
How Do Lip and Tongue Ties Develop?
Lip and tongue tie are two separate (but similar) conditions:
- A lip tie occurs when the tissue between the lip and gums, called a frenulum or frenum, is too short or thick.
- A tongue tie refers to the condition wherein the frenulum between the bottom of the tongue and the floor of the mouth is too short or thick.
Lip and tongue ties are present at birth and may develop due to genetics, a lack of certain nutrients during pregnancy, or other factors. In some cases, the exact reason for a lip or tongue tie remains unknown.
Without prompt treatment, a lip or tongue tie can cause numerous symptoms:
- Difficulty latching when breastfeeding
- Digestive problems, such as acid reflux
- Colic
- Prolonged nursing sessions
- Inability to hold a pacifier
Breastfeeding mothers may also suffer due to their child’s lip or tongue tie. These conditions can lead to nipple pain, clogged milk ducts, and other painful complications.
Why Is It Important to Treat Lip & Tongue Ties?
As a child grows, an untreated lip or tongue tie can continue to cause problems, including:
- Delayed speech development or impeded speech
- Digestive problems, including acid reflux
- An aversion to certain textures of food
- An increased risk of dental health problems, such as cavities and gum disease
- A heightened risk of orthodontic issues
- Sleep disordered breathing, including snoring and episodes of sleep apnea
The above-listed issues can significantly affect your child’s quality of life. They can also lead to the need for extensive and pricey dental treatments. Fortunately, addressing your child’s lip or tongue tie while they are still an infant can help them to avoid such problems.
Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment
The standard treatment for lip and tongue ties is a minimally invasive procedure known as a frenectomy. Children of any age, starting from a few days old, may be eligible for this surgery.
If you believe your child could benefit from a frenectomy, bring them to us for a consultation. Once Dr. Jayswal has had a chance to examine your child, she may use a soft tissue laser to remove or modify the frenulum that is restricting the movement of their oral tissues. The process takes just a few minutes, and the laser makes it as comfortable as possible. Infants are encouraged to breastfeed immediately after the procedure.
Lip and Tongue-Tie FAQs
What could happen if my child doesn’t get treatment for a lip or tongue-tie?
Forgoing lip or tongue-tie treatment can put your child at risk for many different complications, some of which include:
- A speech impediment. If their lip and/or tongue cannot freely move, they may develop a lisp that makes it hard to pronounce certain words, phrases, or sounds. This can cause embarrassment as they get older.
- Poor oral health. If a gap forms between the upper front two teeth because of a lip-tie, your child may experience an increased risk of dental decay and gum disease because of the unnecessary space that forms.
- Difficulty eating. Whether your child is an infant, or they are school-aged, eating is essential. The inability to latch while nursing as well as the difficulty they might face when trying to consume harder foods once they are older can cause nutritional deficiencies and poor weight gain.
Is my child old enough to get lip or tongue-tie treatment?
You’ll be pleased to learn there is no age minimum for lip or tongue-tie treatment. The reason is that this issue forms while a baby is still in the womb and can present issues immediately after birth if left untreated. When discovering that your child has a lip or tongue-tie, it’s best to call our office and let a member of our team know that you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss a possible frenectomy.
Since these banded tissues do not go away without treatment, it’s essential that your little one gets the care they need so that eating, speaking, and good oral health do not become an issue.
How will you keep my baby still for the frenectomy?
Babies who receive a frenectomy will need to be swaddled. Wrapping them up tightly not only keeps them calm, but it also helps them stay warm – a comfortable feeling for most infants. Throughout the process, a member of our team will ensure they remain still so that we can release the lip and/or tongue-tie without issue.
Your baby’s safety and comfort are our priorities, and you will be allowed to return to the treatment room immediately upon the completion of the procedure.
How long does it take to see improvement after a frenectomy?
Our Nexus Dental team will discuss how soon you can expect to see an improvement after your child’s frenectomy. While some infants can immediately begin nursing with no issues after the procedure, others may require a few weeks before they begin to more freely use their lip and/or tongue. Our team will provide helpful stretches that you can use at home with your child to encourage proper healing. We’ll also go over the importance of patience when waiting for your little one to discover their greater range of motion when attempting to nurse, eat, or speak.