A frenectomy is a minimally invasive surgery that is used to treat lip and tongue ties. These conditions, which are present at birth, involve overly thick or short bands of tissue that restrict movement of the lip or tongue. They often go undiagnosed for years, which can lead to long-term consequences for oral health and function. How can you tell if your child could benefit from a frenectomy? Of course, a professional evaluation is the best way to know for sure. In the meantime, you should look for these five signs:
Eating Difficulties
Eating difficulties can affect kids of all ages with a lip or tongue tie. In infants, this can show up as a poor latch during breastfeeding or overly frequent feeding sessions. In more mature kids, you might notice that they avoid certain textures of food or find it difficult to move forward around their mouth. (If foods regularly gets caught in areas of their mouth, this can result in frequent dental cavities.)
Speech Challenges
Lip and tongue movements are vital for proper speech development. If your child needs a frenectomy, they might lisp or learn to speak later than other kids. They might also find it difficult to pronounce certain words.
Mouth Breathing
A tongue tie can force the tongue to rest in a low position. In turn, this can prevent the lips from sealing and affect airway development. As a result, your child might frequently breathe through their mouth. This is often particularly noticeable at night. If your child snores or sometimes experiences pauses in breathing during sleep, a tongue tie could be to blame.
A Gap Between the Front Teeth
In some cases, the band of tissue between the gums and lip is so thick that it leads to a gap between the two upper front teeth. While this is usually more of a cosmetic issue than anything else, it can still be an important sign that your child should be evaluated for a lip tie.
Gum Recession
An overly restricted tissue between the gums and either lip can create a lot of tension for the gums. In some cases, it can even cause them to recede. If your child’s teeth look slightly too long, take it as an indicator that they should see their dentist for an assessment.
Do you suspect your child has a lip or tongue tie? Do not dismiss the problem! Instead, bring them to see a qualified dentist as soon as possible.
Meet the Practice
Dr. Preetha Thomas is an experienced holistic dentist in the Southlake area. She uses an advanced soft tissue laser to perform frenectomies for infants and children. If you would like your child to undergo an evaluation for lip and tongue tie, contact Enclave Dental at 817-912-1218.
