Lip Tie

What it is, how it affects newborns, and our safe and virtually painless treatment options.

What is a Lip Tie?

A lip tie is a membrane under the lip that limits oral mobility. Primarily, this can cause breastfeeding
difficulties for both mom and baby. In severe cases, a tie can cause long term dental problems,
underdeveloped speech, or significant feeding problems that last beyond infancy. We’re here to help!

A quick, painless treatment could bring back normal, frustration-free feedings in as little as one day.

Signs of a Tie

An infant lip tie occurs when the thin stretch of tissue behind the upper lip, called a frenulum, is too thick or stiff. A thick membrane can restrict movement and cause feeding issues.

When experiencing a lip tie, newborn babies struggle to latch correctly. You may find your baby refusing to nurse, and sometimes they struggle to bottle feed or hold a binky.

Not only can lip ties cause malnutrition in infants (or at the very least, frustration with feeding times), but lip ties can also increase the risk of tooth decay later in life.

If you suspect you have a lip tie newborn issue on your hands, call us immediately to schedule a lip tie treatment.

Lip Tie Procedure

A lip tie procedure, or laser frenectomy, carefully cuts the frenulum to allow for greater upper lip mobility. The treatment is done in just a few short minutes and is virtually painless for the infant. It is important to know that once the procedure is complete, there is no need to pull on the lip which may cause undue irritation or pain to your child.

Schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist who specializes in lip tie treatments, like Dr. Howell. This way, you’ll be sure to get an expert on the job who can reduce the risk of infection.

Check out some amazing video testimonials of our Patients

Reviews

5 Videos

Lip Tie Treatment | Tongue Tie Treatment | Breastfeeding Difficulty

Lip Tie Treatment | Tongue Tie Treatment | Breastfeeding Difficulty

1:05

Lip Tie Review 1

Lip Tie Review 1

0:16

Lip Tie Review 2

Lip Tie Review 2

0:16

Lip Tie Review 3

Lip Tie Review 3

0:16

Lip Tie Review 4

Lip Tie Review 4

0:16

BreAnna Anderson (2 days ago)

"We had a frenectomy done here and couldn't be happier. My 3 month old was clicking at the bottle, dribbling milk out the sides, not gaining weight, only drinking 2 to 3 oz per feeding, reflux, and not sleeping through the night. All around he was not a happy baby. We found out he had a stage 4 lip tie and had it lasered the next day! You don't have to do any of the lip pulling because they put a specialized bandage on the wound. He was fussy for about a week and it took him about 4 days to relearn how to suck on a bottle. We are 2 weeks out, and now he drinks 4 to 5 and sometimes 6 oz per feeding, doesn't click, sleeps through the night, is no longer on reflux meds and is all around a much happier baby!"

Very Happy Parent (3 days ago)

Dr Howell and the staff at OPD are just outstanding and wonderful. My 6 week old had a major lip tie that made it difficult for him to eat properly. After an over the phone consult, I was quickly scheduled. At the in person consult, I was asked my needs as a parent, my child’s needs, what I looked for most, and how they could best service me. Dr Howell was hands on and with me every step of the way. It’s not easy to put your infant in the hands of a stranger, but I felt like the staff at OPD was family. I saw instant results in my baby’s feeding habits and his healing process was phenomenal. Over the course of my baby’s healing, Dr Howell personally called me to check up on my baby and I. I’ve never felt more cared for and seen. Any and all questions were met with respectful and timely answers, and they were so flexible with my schedule. Dr Howell made a special request of mine happen and did it with a smile, no questions asked. 1000% without a doubt would recommend OPD for any and everything! Special shout out to Faith, she was so welcoming and made me feel so comfortable. We ❤️ OPD!!

Was your baby born lip tied ?

Dr. R Bruce Howell and his team can end your feeding frustrations right now.

A lip tied or tongue tied baby can be difficult to feed. But there’s hope for improving your little one’s ability to latch and drink correctly.

Most mothers report significant, immediate feeding improvement after a quick, painless procedure at our office. Contact us now to transform your feeding experience in as little as 48 hours.