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!