Lip Tie or Tongue Tie
Baby Feeding Difficulties?
We’re here to help.
Infant feeding issues are beyond frustrating.
They can leave both mom and baby in tears, and for good reason: baby is hungry, and mom is exhausted & worried about her little one getting enough to eat.
Infant feeding issues are beyond frustrating.
They can leave both mom and baby in tears, and for good reason: baby is hungry, and mom is exhausted & worried about her little one getting enough to eat.
A quick, painless lip and tongue tie treatment in Orem, Utah could bring back normal, frustration-free feedings in as little as one day. If you’re struggling with some of these common feeding problems in newborns, your baby may have a lip tie or tongue tie issue that can be fixed.
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- SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, & TREATMENT OPTIONS
A lip tie or tongue tie is a membrane under the lip or tongue that limits oral mobility. In severe cases, a tie can cause longterm dental problems, underdeveloped speech, or significant feeding problems that last beyond infancy.
If you’re struggling with some of these common feeding problems in newborns, your baby may have a lip tie or tongue tie issue.
Further, a common practice among some pediatric dentists, after they have cut the lip tie is to have the parents pull on the upper lip tearing the cut tissue to try to prevent reattachment of the lip frenulum back to how it was before. Or, to have the infant come back two weeks later and the dentist pulls the lip tearing the tissue. This causes unneeded pain for the infant as well as upsetting for the parent. This causes scar tissue rather than normal healthy gum tissue
Here at Orem Pediatric Dentistry we use an exclusive Biolase Waterlase laser with a proprietary technique and bandage that prevents reattachment of the tissue eliminating the lip pulling or tearing the tissue. After healing we always get normal healthy gum tissue rather than scar tissue on the surgery site. We have done over 5000 of these surgeries with excellent healing.
Following are the symptoms:
- Colic
- Baby not latching
- Bottle feeding problems
- Baby refusing to breastfeed
- Clicking noise when feeding
- Baby struggles to gain weight
- Difficulty breathing while feeding
- Tongue attached to floor of mouth
- Severely limited upper lip mobility
- Baby taking in excess air when feeding
- Acting overly fatigued or frequently falling asleep while nursing
- Excessive gas or fussiness after feeding
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.
An infant tongue tie is similar to a lip tie. This congenital oral condition, also known as an ankyloglossia, ties the baby’s tongue to the floor of the mouth, inhibiting mobility and causing latching difficulties.
If your baby is gagging, frequently detaching from the breast, or making a clicking sound while feeding, they could have an infant tongue tie problem.
But this is actually good news, because it means your infant feeding difficulties can be fixed.
It isn’t uncommon for lip ties and tongue ties to occur simultaneously. Your pediatric dentist can confirm whether your baby has one or both.
Not only do breastfeeding babies with a lip tie or tongue tie exhibit the above symptoms, but mothers suffer their own set of symptoms, too.
You may experience:
– Mastitis or blocked milk ducts
– Bleeding from gumming or improper latching
– Breast and nipple tenderness during or after feedings
– Frustration and fatigue from seemingly never-ending feedings
– Engorged breasts after feedings, as though your infant barely drank anything
Typically, lip or tongue skin membranes recede and thin before birth. When this doesn’t happen, however, manual treatment is often warranted.
A tongue tie revision or lip tie correction is quite simple; and at Orem Pediatric Dentistry, it’s painless, too. Our state-of-the-art WaterLase treatment causes little to no bleeding, cauterizes the wound site, and eliminates the risk of infection.
In fact, a lip or tongue tie correction is highly recommended by La Leche League as a solution for breastfeeding struggles. Breastfeeding experts at the League confirm that the procedure causes little, if any, discomfort to the child.
Don’t wait to schedule your appointment; this type of procedure is best done as soon as possible.
After a lip tie or tongue tie procedure, baby may display a little discomfort, but should show near-immediate improvement with feedings.
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.
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.
Tongue Tie Procedure
In the case of a tongue tie procedure, or lingual frenectomy, Dr. Howell uses the WaterLase to gently cut back the lingual frenulum, or the membrane that tethers the tongue to the bottom of the mouth.
This tongue tie correction increases mobility of the tongue and can eliminate infant feeding issues.
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.
Questions / Answers
Checkout Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my baby has a lip tie or tongue tie?
If your little one has any of the following symptoms:
– Problems latching
– Refusing to breastfeed
– Struggling to gain weight
– Not bottle feeding correctly
– Tongue is attached to floor of mouth
– Makes clicking noise during feedings
– Upper lip mobility is severely limited
– Excessively gassy or fussy after feeding
– Seems to struggle to breathe or takes in excess air while feeding
– Seems overly fatigued or frequently falls asleep while nursing
… They might have a lip tie or tongue tie issue.
Don’t wait until your baby is losing weight. Call us immediately for a free consultation & diagnosis so we can help you out ASAP: 801.802.7200
Can my baby get an infection from a lip tie or tongue tie treatment?
No.
Infection used to be a significant concern among pediatricians, making lip tie and tongue tie fixes a controversial treatment.
However, our laser treatment eliminates the risk of infection by cauterizing the wound site. Plus, our expert pediatric dentist uses a patented bandage and surgical glue that promotes healthy gum growth around the surgical site.
If you have further concerns about the risk of infection, please feel bring it up during your free consultation with Dr. Howell. Call to schedule now: 801.802.7200
Will I have to pull my baby's lip after the treatment?
No! At Orem Pediatric Dentistry, we never recommend lip pulling after a lip tie fix.
Lip pulling is a painful and outdated practice that reintroduces the cut and creates scarring around the wound site.
Though some pediatric dentists may recommend lip pulling, our treatment makes lip pulling 100% unnecessary.
Not only does our laser treatment create a virtually painless experience for your infant, but we also use a patented bandage and surgical glue that promotes healthy gum growth around the surgical site.
Not all pediatric dentists use these options, but we have found it results in significantly better healing for your little one.
Plus, this means that once the surgery is finished, it is done. No lip pulling or additional treatments necessary.
Is WaterLase surgery risky for babies?
No. The WaterLase is so safe, we feel 100% confident using it with infants.
Not only is there no radiation involved, but WaterLase surgery is far more precise and causes significantly less damage than traditional dental instruments.
The WaterLase laser uses a beam of light, which shines through a tank of water charged with the antimicrobial compound, erbium chromium. This creates an ionized charge that breaks through enamel or soft tissue with the most accurate cut possible.
The laser automatically cauterizes the wound, leading to faster healing, reduction in inflammation, and far less pain for the patient.
Additionally, the WaterLase eliminates the risk of infection from lip tie or tongue tie treatments, making this the safest possible lip tie or tongue tie treatment for infants
See What Parents Have to Say About Our Expert Pediatric Dentist Lip Tie & Tongue Tie Treatments…
Was your baby born lip tied or tongue 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.