Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment – Lewisville, TX
Freedom for Your Child’s Oral Tissues
A lip or tongue tie can make it difficult for your child to properly move certain parts of their mouth. In turn, this can lead to numerous complications, such as feeding difficulties, impeded speech development, and more. Fortunately, our Lewisville dental team is here to help. Dr. Jayswal uses a soft tissue laser to perform minimally invasive lip and tongue tie treatment, which can provide freedom for your child’s oral tissues and support their long-term wellness.
Why Choose Nexus Dental of Lewisville for Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment?
- Precise & Comfortable Soft Tissue Laser
- Improved Feeding and Other Benefits
- Friendly and Knowledgeable Dental Team
How Do Lip and Tongue Ties Develop?
Lip and tongue tie are two separate (but similar) conditions:
- A lip tie occurs when the tissue between the lip and gums, called a frenulum or frenum, is too short or thick.
- A tongue tie refers to the condition wherein the frenulum between the bottom of the tongue and the floor of the mouth is too short or thick.
Lip and tongue ties are present at birth and may develop due to genetics, a lack of certain nutrients during pregnancy, or other factors. In some cases, the exact reason for a lip or tongue tie remains unknown.
Without prompt treatment, a lip or tongue tie can cause numerous symptoms:
- Difficulty latching when breastfeeding
- Digestive problems, such as acid reflux
- Colic
- Prolonged nursing sessions
- Inability to hold a pacifier
Breastfeeding mothers may also suffer due to their child’s lip or tongue tie. These conditions can lead to nipple pain, clogged milk ducts, and other painful complications.
Why Is It Important to Treat Lip & Tongue Ties?
As a child grows, an untreated lip or tongue tie can continue to cause problems, including:
- Delayed speech development or impeded speech
- Digestive problems, including acid reflux
- An aversion to certain textures of food
- An increased risk of dental health problems, such as cavities and gum disease
- A heightened risk of orthodontic issues
- Sleep disordered breathing, including snoring and episodes of sleep apnea
The above-listed issues can significantly affect your child’s quality of life. They can also lead to the need for extensive and pricey dental treatments. Fortunately, addressing your child’s lip or tongue tie while they are still an infant can help them to avoid such problems.
Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment
The standard treatment for lip and tongue ties is a minimally invasive procedure known as a frenectomy. Children of any age, starting from a few days old, may be eligible for this surgery.
If you believe your child could benefit from a frenectomy, bring them to us for a consultation. Once Dr. Jayswal has had a chance to examine your child, she may use a soft tissue laser to remove or modify the frenulum that is restricting the movement of their oral tissues. The process takes just a few minutes, and the laser makes it as comfortable as possible. Infants are encouraged to breastfeed immediately after the procedure.