Tongue and Lip Tie Release
Using State-of-the-Art Laser Treatment
Tongue Tie
A tight lower tongue frenum attachment may restrict the mobility of the tongue and appears as a cupping or heart-shaped tongue when the tongue is elevated. This can result in the inability to get the tongue under the nipple to create a suction to draw out milk. Long term, a tongue tie can result in speech problems and/or issues later with transferring food around the mouth for chewing.
Lip Tie
A tight upper lip frenum attachment may compromise full lip flanging and appear as a tight, tense, upper lip during nursing. This can result in a shallow latch during breastfeeding. Additionally, the tight upper lip may trap milk, resulting in constant contact of milk to the front teeth, and possibly lead to dental decay. If the frenum attaches close to the ridge or into a palate, a future diastema (gap between the teeth) can also occur.
Symptoms
Some babies can have tongue or lip ties and not be symptomatic. To know if the ties are a problem, we ask two major questions: "Is the baby getting enough to eat?" and "Is nursing comfortable for the mother?"
Baby Symptoms:
- Poor Latch
- Falls asleep while attempting to nurse
- Slides off the nipple when attempting to latch
- Colic Symptoms
- Reflux Symptoms
- Poor weight gain
- Gumming or chewing of your nipple
- Unable to hold a pacifier in his/her mouth
- Short sleep episodes requiring feedings every 1-2 hours
- Snore, breathe loudly or have sleep apnea
Mother Symptoms:
- Creased, flattened, or blanched nipples after nursing
- Cracked, bruised, or blistered nipples
- Severe pain when your infant attempts to latch
- Poor or incomplete breast drainage
- Infected nipples or breasts
- Plugged ducts or mastitis
- Nipple thrush
What is a Frenectomy?
A frenectomy is the procedure used to correct a congenital condition when the lingual (tongue) or labial (lip) frenulum is tight, resulting in restriction of function. This may potentially result in difficulty of breastfeeding and other concerns such as dental, digestive, and speech issues. If your lactation consultant or doctor feels that this procedure is warranted, then your baby may have a tongue and/or lip tie.
Procedure
Babies tolerate the procedure very well, and we will try to ensure that discomfort is minimized.
It is common for babies to cry and/or act fussy during and after the procedure. Babies typically lose only a small amount of blood, if any at all. Once your baby is treated they are returned immediately to you. Please feel free to nurse, bottle-feed and cuddle your baby, depending on your preference.
If your baby does swallow a small amount of blood, he or she may have brown spit-ups or stool after the procedure.
Our State of the Art Lasers offer:
- Excellent hemostasis (risk of bleeding significantly reduced)
- Bactericidal effects (little chance of infection)
- Photobiomodulation effects (reduced inflammation and improved healing)
- NO need to place infant in the OR or under sedation
The laser is a much kinder method of revision, unlike electrosurgery, which actually burns the tissue, and the scalpel which cuts deeper than needed. There is little damage to adjacent tissue when using the laser, therefore healing is quicker and less post-operative discomfort occurs. In reality, the procedure is simpler and quicker than a filling, requiring no anesthesia or stitches!
Additional benefits are:
- Minimal to no bleeding allowing better visibility for the doctor
- Enhanced precision due to better visibility
- No need to inject epinephrine-based local anesthetic
- Complete removal of desired tissue