Does your child have trouble with breastfeeding? Or do they struggle when trying to make certain sounds? If so, they may have a severe case of tongue tie or lip tie that’s stopping your little one from moving their mouth as freely as they need to in order to perform certain oral tasks. How does this happen, and how can a laser frenectomy in Kittanning help? Here’s what you’ll need to know to help make sure your child grows up being able to enjoy life as fully as possible.
What Causes Tongue Ties and Lip Ties?
Tongue tie and lip tie are both conditions described as “tethered oral tissues”, or TOTs. They can be caused by an overly-restrictive frenulum; this is a piece of connective tissue that connects your lips to your teeth or your tongue to the bottom of your mouth. If your child has a frenulum that’s too tight or too short, they might not be able to move their lips and tongue correctly. This issue is present from birth. While it sometimes runs in the family, anyone could potentially be born with it under the right circumstances.
How Can You Tell if Your Child Has a Tongue Tie or Lip Tie?
If your infant has a tongue tie or lip tie, you might notice problems while they’re breastfeeding. They could be unable to fully latch on, they might bite or chew the nipple, and many feedings could end up being unsuccessful.
Over time, if a child grows up without having their tie treated, their development could suffer in several different ways. They could suffer from a speech impediment or have trouble swallowing certain foods. In many cases, they could even have difficulty with simple tasks like licking ice cream or playing a wind instrument; sometimes they could even have trouble kissing. Needless to say, the quicker a tie is dealt with, the better life will be for your little one overall.
How Can Laser Frenectomy Help?
A frenectomy, as the name implies, is the procedure for removing a restrictive frenulum. While in the past this was a very painful process that could take a while to recover from, the treatment has become far easier and painless thanks to modern technology. Instead of surgical scissors, your dentist in Kittanning can use an extremely precise soft tissue laser that focuses on the appropriate area; as a result, less tissue is damaged, and recovery takes far less time. And thanks to local anesthetic, your child often won’t feel any pain at all!
Sometimes tongue tie or lip tie can get better on their own by a child’s second or third birthday, but for severe issues, a frenectomy can sometimes be done when they’re less than 12 weeks old. Talk to your dentist in Kittanning to see if this procedure could help free your little one’s mouth and help ensure that they’ll be able to talk and eat as they please later in life.
About the Author
Dr. Ray Voller started practicing dentistry in Kittanning since 1981. As a member of several different dental organizations, including the Academy of general Dentistry and the Pennsylvania Dental Association, he is skilled in performing a wide range of dental procedures, including laser frenectomies. If you or your child is suffering from tongue tie or lip tie, make an appointment with Dr. Voller at Voller Dentistry by visiting his website or calling (724) 543-4948.