Tongue ties and lip ties are conditions where the tissue connecting the tongue or lip to the mouth is too tight, restricting movement. Symptoms of a tongue tie include difficulty breastfeeding, speech issues, and limited tongue mobility. Lip ties can cause breastfeeding challenges, poor weight gain in infants, and dental problems like gaps and cavities.
Treatment typically involves a frenectomy, which releases the tight tissue. Laser frenectomy is often used for its benefits of reduced discomfort, minimal bleeding, and quick healing. This procedure is effective for infants and children, improving breastfeeding, speech, and oral hygiene. Our Houston dental practice specializes in these procedures, ensuring immediate relief and long-term benefits through early intervention and personalized treatment plans.
If you or your infant have more than a few of these symptoms, even with good weight gain, your child should be properly evaluated for a tongue and lip tie.
There are many children who have difficulties related to tongue-ties and lip-ties, but unfortunately, these conditions are often not identified until later in life. They can cause speech and feeding difficulties, sleep issues, and a wide-range of other concerns.
If your child is unable to touch the roof of the mouth with his or her tongue when opening widely, is struggling with speech delay, or speech issues that aren’t resolving, has difficulty eating or getting a good night’s sleep, please explore the sections below
A tongue restriction affects speech differently in each individual. Some children with a to-the-tip tie can articulate well (but may struggle with increased effort when speaking). Other children, with a less visible or posterior tie, may have a speech delay or difficulty producing the sounds for L, R, T, D, N, TH, SH, and Z.
We are currently conducting studies to measure the effects of tongue-tie on children’s speech and the effectiveness of the release procedure. The following issues all saw a significant improvement after a tongue-tie release in our office (p < 0.01): frustration in communication, difficulty being understood, difficulty speaking fast, and difficulty getting words out, trouble with speech sounds, speech delay, and mumbling or speaking softly.
We have seen that many tongue-tied children begin saying new words, even just hours or days after the release! One child said four new words the same day as the procedure. Another increased from a total of 10 words before the procedure to 39 in the week following. There is no guarantee that every child will have immediate results, but we often see this type of drastic improvement.
Children that are tongue-tied often have eating issues from infancy, such as trouble nursing or taking a bottle. When transitioning to solid foods, they may choke, gag, or have difficulty swallowing certain textures.
In childhood, these eating difficulties can persist and are evidenced by only eating small amounts of food, slow eating, packing food in the cheeks like a chipmunk, and pickiness with textures (soft, mushy foods and meats are typically the most difficult, but children can struggle with other foods as well). In our recent study, 84% of children with feeding issues saw improvement.
A tongue-tied child will often grind his or her teeth at night, snore, or experience other sleep-disordered breathing problems. Releasing a tongue-tie can help a child to sleep more soundly because the tongue will be able to rest on the palate, as it was designed to do, rather than falling back to narrow or block the child’s airway. Sleep-disordered breathing can cause frequent waking, restlessness, bed-wetting, failure to feel refreshed upon waking and accompanying difficulty focusing (which is sometimes misdiagnosed as ADD or ADHD).
Because multiple factors contribute to the problem, such as large tonsils and adenoids, a narrow palate and tongue-tie, often a child will be seen by multiple specialists to try to remedy the problem. In addition, children with tongue-ties often have a history of multiple ear infections and needing ear tubes. They may have had tonsils and adenoids removed. All of these can be complicated by the mouth-breathing that frequently occurs in tongue-tied individuals, due to the low resting posture of the tongue. We have found that when there is a tongue-tie, sleep often improves dramatically after a simple in-office procedure.
A tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, occurs when the strip of tissue (lingual frenulum) connecting your tongue to the floor of your mouth is shorter or tighter than usual. This can restrict tongue movement and cause various problems, even into adulthood.
Many adults live with undiagnosed tongue ties that can affect their daily lives in several ways:
If left untreated, tongue ties can lead to numerous complications that affect your overall well-being:
Treating a tongue tie through a simple procedure called a frenectomy can significantly improve your quality of life. Picture yourself enjoying these benefits:
A frenectomy is a quick, minimally invasive procedure often performed with our Solea laser. Here’s what you can expect:
Treating a tongue tie isn’t just about addressing a physical issue – it’s about transforming your overall well-being. Improved speech, better sleep, and enhanced oral health contribute to a more vibrant, confident, and healthy version of you.
Deciding to undergo a frenectomy starts with a thorough assessment by Dr. Al. He will evaluate the severity of your tongue tie and its impact on your life to help you make an informed decision.
At Innovative Smiles, we’re dedicated to transforming lives through exceptional dental care. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and take the first step towards a healthier, happier you.
Tongue tie treatment involves a procedure called a frenectomy, which releases the tight tissue (lingual frenulum) restricting the tongue’s movement. This is essential for improving functions such as breastfeeding, speech, and oral hygiene. At our Houston office, we use advanced techniques and technology to ensure safe and effective results time after time.
Symptoms include difficulty breastfeeding, speech impediments, trouble sticking the tongue out past the lower front teeth, and issues with oral hygiene. If you notice these signs, please contact our pediatric dentist in Houston and we can help you determine if treatment is needed.
Lip tie treatment typically involves a laser frenectomy, which is a minimally invasive procedure that releases the tight tissue connecting the upper lip to the gums. This helps improve breastfeeding and oral function in infants and children.
Individuals with tongue or lip ties who experience difficulties with breastfeeding, speech, or oral hygiene often need a frenectomy. Dr. Al can evaluate your child and recommend the appropriate treatment.
Laser frenectomy offers several benefits, including reduced discomfort, minimal bleeding, and faster healing times. This procedure is highly effective for treating tongue and lip ties in both infants and children, and is available at our Houston dental office.
You’ve come to the right place! Dr. Al has extensive experience in frenectomy procedures, and has specialized laser technology for frenectomies, which is why we are the go-to practice for lip and tongue tie procedures in Houston, TX.
The cost of tongue or lip tie surgery varies depending on the complexity of the case. We’d love to see you for a consultation, where we will discuss your options and provide you with an accurate estimate for your particular case.
During your consultation, Dr. Al will examine your child’s oral structure, discuss symptoms, and explain the frenectomy procedure. We will also address any concerns and provide aftercare instructions.
Preparing your child for their tongue or lip tie procedure involves explaining the procedure calmly, bringing their favorite toy for comfort, and following pre-operative instructions provided by Dr. Al. This ensures a smooth experience. Rest assured, our doctor and staff will guide you through every step.
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