If your child is having trouble nursing, speaking, or using their mouth properly, a common condition called tongue tie or lip tie may be the reason. At Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry in Rogers, AR, our team of board-certified pediatric dentists uses an advanced laser surgical tool called WaterLase to quickly treat infants and children diagnosed with tongue or lip tie, creating dramatic, permanent quality of life improvements.
You and your child will love our friendly, welcoming atmosphere, as well as the experience of getting to work with some of the most skilled, compassionate pediatric dentists in all of Northwest Arkansas. Your child’s comfort and well-being are our top priority, and we look forward to showing you both the difference that great dental care can make.
To schedule an exam to check for tongue or lip tie, contact us today!
What Is Tongue or Lip Tie?
Tongue tie or lip tie are two variants of a common oral health condition that can significantly impact your child’s quality of life. Easily diagnosed, tongue or lip tie make it harder for your child to latch or nurse, eat, or even speak properly when left untreated. Fortunately, treatment involves a simple, one-time procedure called a frenectomy, usually performed by a dentist or oral surgeon, that will permanently cure the condition.
What Causes Tongue or Lip Tie?
Tongue or lip tie is what’s called a congenital condition, or something that your child is born with. The condition is caused by a problem with your child’s frenum, which is a kind of connective soft tissue found in the mouth. Both variants occur when frenum tissue is too short or tight, which can restrict the range of motion for the tongue or the lips. As a result, your child will have trouble moving their mouth normally.
What Are the Symptoms of Tongue or Lip Tie?
Tongue or lip tie can be quickly diagnosed during a dental exam. As a parent, you may also notice symptoms of concern. These include:
For Infants
- Trouble latching or nursing
- Poor weight gain
- Difficulty using a pacifier
- Falling asleep during nursing
- Excessive drooling
- Colic or gassiness
- Gasping or gumming while nursing
For Children and Teenagers
- Difficulty speaking or a noticeable speech impediment
- Picky or slow eating
- Crooked or crowded teeth
- Snoring or grinding teeth
- Mouth breathing
- Prolonged thumb sucking or similar habits
How Do We Treat Tongue or Lip Tie?
Tongue or lip tie is easy to fix. We perform a simple procedure called a frenectomy to release any restrictions on your child’s frenum, permanently curing the condition.
Even better, we now do our frenectomies using the advanced WaterLase laser surgical system, which largely eliminates any discomfort caused by the procedure. Safer and more accurate than surgeries performed using an old-fashioned dental scalpel, WaterLase also automatically sterilizes and seals the incision site. This means that your child won’t need any stitches to help their mouth heal properly and will be at a significantly lower risk of developing a post-surgical infection.
A frenectomy typically takes less than 10 minutes. Your child will also need little to no recovery time afterward. Plus, they will experience immediate, permanent improvements in their ability to use their mouth normally!
At What Age Can My Child Get a Frenectomy?
We can cure tongue or lip tie by performing a frenectomy on children of any age, including infants and even newborns. We recommend having your child evaluated for tongue or lip tie during their age-1 dental visit if you haven’t already noticed symptoms.
Is Tongue or Lip Tie Treatment Uncomfortable?
No! Using our advanced WaterLase laser surgical system, our dentists do frenectomies that cause little to no discomfort whatsoever. Most of our patients don’t even need a local anesthetic!
Cure Your Child’s Tongue Tie or Lip Tie in One Visit!
To see how our advanced WaterLase laser surgical system can cure your child’s tongue or lip tie in a single easy visit, contact our friendly team today!
