Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment Southlake

Lip and tongue ties are not uncommon in babies. When these conditions are left untreated, however, they can cause major problems. For example, eating may be very difficult for the baby, and feeding can turn into a stressful, frustrating experience for the parents. To correct a lip or tongue tie, your child may need a minimally invasive procedure known as a frenectomy. Dr. Thomas is a true expert in this treatment! She has performed close to 1,000 frenectomies to date. Keep reading below to learn more, or contact our office directly to request a consultation for your child.

Infant Questionnaire and Consent Forms

How Do Lip and Tongue Ties Develop?

Lip or tongue tie occurs when a frenulum — or the bit of tissue that keeps parts of the body from moving too far from each other — is too tight. An overly short or thick frenulum beneath the upper lip or below the tongue restricts movement and can make eating difficult for babies.

While the exact cause of lip and tongue ties is not always known, these conditions may develop in some cases due to a lack of proper nutrition during pregnancy. Genetic factors may also play a role.

Symptoms of Lip and Tongue Tie

If your baby experiences any of the following, he or she may have lip/tongue tie.

• Poor latch
• Falls asleep while attempting to latch
• Slides off nipple while attempting to latch
• Colic symptoms
• Reflux symptoms
• Poor weight gain
• Gumming/chewing the nipple while nursing
• Unable to hold a pacifier in mouth
• Unable to use a bottle
• Short sleep episodes and refeeding every couple or few hours

Of course, lip and tongue ties don’t just affect baby. If the feeding mother has experienced sore, chafed, blanching nipples, intense pain, poor or incomplete breast drainage, plugged ducts, nipple thrush, or oversupply, those are also signs that a frenectomy is needed.

Why Is It Important to Treat Lip & Tongue Ties? 

Without timely treatment, a lip or tongue tie can lead to significant problems. Here are some examples of what might happen:

• There may be delays in speech development.
• Disordered breathing, especially during sleep, may occur.
• Limited tongue mobility can prevent your child from removing food debris from certain parts of their mouth, which can increase their risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
• There is a greater risk of ongoing acid reflux.
• A tongue tie can contribute to tongue thrust, which in turn may lead to misaligned teeth.

Getting your child’s lip or tongue tie treated while they are still very young can prevent such issues, thereby saving you money and sparing your child from pain and discomfort.

Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment 

If your child is younger than 12 months, fixing their lip or tongue tie is simple. Between the ages of 1 and 3, we may require the use of general anesthesia or conscious sedation — for which we may have to bring in an anesthesiologist. Kids above the age of 4 can be accommodated with nitrous oxide (laughing gas).

The actual frenectomy procedure takes less than a minute for each frenum. Using a precise laser, Dr. Thomas cuts and seals the tissues with very little to no bleeding at all.

We will begin by applying a specially formulated topical anesthetic on both the upper lip frenum and tongue for lip tie. This topical anesthetic will allow your baby to be able to nurse immediately after the procedure.

After the topical anesthetic is placed, your baby will be comfortably swaddled and held by a member of our caring staff to minimize movement (If a parent would like to be in the room, we can make accommodations; please talk with our office to learn more). Then, the laser procedure is completed quickly, comfortably, and efficiently. Aloe vera gel is placed on the site immediately afterward to soothe the area and promote natural healing.

After your baby’s frenectomy, you’ll get the chance to nurse immediately in one of our comfortable rooms. It’s a wonderful reward for you and your baby!

The Goal of Tongue Tie Treatment

Dr. Thomas and our team understand that the prospect of oral surgery can be intimidating, even if it is something as simple as a frenectomy. Rest assured, the procedure involves very little risk! Plus, it can provide remarkable benefits. By treating tongue-tie early in life, we can greatly reduce the chances that more extensive care will be required later on. For example, this procedure can promote good oral hygiene and even lower the risk that permanent teeth will need to be extracted. Indeed, a frenectomy is a sterling example of farsighted, conservative care that focuses on whole-body wellness.

Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment FAQs

What Kind of Environment Can I Expect at Enclave Dental?

At Enclave Dental in Southlake, Dr. Thomas and our team understand that both parents and their children can feel nervous about walking into a dental office, especially when the purpose of the visit is to undergo surgery! That is why we put extra effort into creating a calm and peaceful environment where even infants feel at ease. Throughout the 10+ years that our practice has been in existence, we have treated thousands of babies, and we have a sterling reputation in the community as one of the best places for lip and tongue tie treatment.

What Problems Can Be Solved by Lip and Tongue Tie Treatment?

Often, mothers who bring their babies to us are in pain due to the breastfeeding problems that come with a lip or tongue tie. Their babies may not be properly gaining weight and could be fussy and failing to thrive. Older kids may experience ongoing dental problems, speech challenges, and other issues. A frenectomy, along with other potential treatments (like myofunctional therapy or orthodontia) can stop these problems from progressing and prevent future complications. Indeed, treatment leads to happier households and healthier children.

Are There Any Age Restrictions on Lip and Tongue Tie Treatment?

It is best to treat these conditions during infancy, but really, lip and tongue tie can be successfully treated at any age. In our office, we do not treat kids between the ages of 1 and 3 simply because the procedure can be emotionally traumatic. Older kids (4 and above) find it easier to understand what is happening and comply with treatment instructions. Other factors besides age, such as the tongue’s strength and the amount of room in the mouth, also determine whether an older child is a good candidate for a frenectomy.

How Do Different Age Groups Benefit from Lip and Tongue Tie Treatment?

Lip and tongue ties are usually treated in infancy. After a frenectomy, feeding generally becomes much easier for both mothers and their babies. This supports proper growth, better weight gain, higher-quality sleep, and a more comfortable bonding experience during breastfeeding. For older kids, releasing a lip or tongue tie can improve speech and reduce the risk of future dental problems. (Often, older kids need myofunctional therapy to learn how to properly use their oral structures in order to enjoy the greatest possible benefits from their frenectomy.)