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.
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.
Tongue Tie
Lip Tie
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?"
A frenectomy is a 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 the 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.
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.
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 include:
What is the Emergency Dental/Crisis Treatment?
Many people don't see a dentist on a regular basis. They go only when they feel they have a problem. At Kneib Dentistry, we call this "crisis treatment" as opposed to "preventive treatment."
While these patients may feel they are saving money, it usually ends up costing much more in both dollars and time. The reason for this is that most dental problems don't have any symptoms until they reach the advanced stages.
An example is tooth decay. At Kneib Dentistry, we hear all the time, "Nothing hurts... I don't have any problems." But tooth decay doesn't hurt! Until that is, it gets close to the nerve of the tooth.
Then a root canal and crown are usually necessary instead of the small filling, which could have been placed several years ago when the cavity was small. Dr. Kneib can usually detect a cavity 3 or 4 years before it may develop any symptoms. It is not uncommon to see a patient with a tremendous cavity and they have never felt a thing!
How can I spot dental problems?
One of the easiest problems to spot is a build-up of plaque. Plaque is the soft, sticky layer of bacteria, which is constantly forming on the teeth.
Usually, it is invisible to the naked eye, but when a person is not brushing adequately, it can build up to where it appears to be a thick whitish coating on the teeth at the gum line. If not removed, it can lead to gum disease.
Another potential problem, which is easy to spot, is missing teeth. Many assume that if they are still able to eat, they are OK.
But very often, losing just one tooth can lead to the loss of support, and teeth begin to drift into the empty space, causing a change in the bite. It also forces the remaining teeth to carry an additional load, sometimes past their ability to adapt. In most cases, when even one tooth is lost, the remaining teeth suffer and are more likely to be lost as well.
When should my child first see a dentist?
First visit by first birthday sums it up. Your child should visit a dentist when the first tooth comes in, usually between six and twelve months of age. An early examination at Kneib Dentistry and preventive care will protect your child's smile now and in the future.
Monday | 7:30am - 5:00pm |
Tuesday | 7:30am - 5:00pm |
Wednesday | 7:30am - 5:00pm |
Thursday | 8:00am - 5:00pm |
Friday | 8:00am - 1:00pm | No Appointments |