Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment Farmington
Freedom for Your Oral Tissues
Lip and tongue tie are common defects that are present at birth. Left untreated, they can lead to numerous complications. The good news is that our Farmington practice can perform a minimally invasive surgery known as a frenectomy to treat lip and tongue tie, leading to freedom for your oral structures. Continue reading below to learn more, and then contact us when you are ready to request a consultation.
Why Choose BPS Periodontics for Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment?
- Team of Skilled Dental Specialists
- Treatment for Patients of All Ages
- Improve Your Oral Health and Quality of Life
How Do Lip and Tongue Ties Develop?
A lip tie occurs when the tissue between the upper lip and the gums, known as a frenum or frenulum, is too short or thick. It thereby restricts the lip’s movements. A tongue tie is similar. However, it affects the tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth.
Lip and tongue tie are present at birth. Sometimes, their may be caused by nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy. Genetics and other factors may also play a role in their development.
Lip and tongue tie usually manifest symptoms during infancy. For example, an infant may not be able to latch while nursing. They may be colicky and demand short but frequent feeding sessions. Slow weight gain is also common. Mothers of babies with tongue tie may experience issues like sore nipples, clogged milk ducts, painful breastfeeding, and low milk supply.
Why Is It Important to Treat Lip & Tongue Ties?
Without timely treatment, lip and tongue tie can continue to cause problems throughout childhood and adulthood. For example, children might experience:
- Difficulty speaking or delays in learning to enunciate certain sounds.
- Digestive problems, such as acid reflux.
- An aversion to certain types of food.
- An increased risk of dental problems, such as crooked teeth, cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.
- Forward posture of the head and neck.
- Teeth grinding and clenching.
- Disordered breathing during sleep and an increased risk of sleep apnea.
Adults with lip and tongue tie may also experience difficulties, such as dental problems, sleep apnea, and low confidence due to poor oral health.
Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment
Whether you have a lip or tongue tie or your child has one of these conditions, it can have a major impact on your quality of life! Fortunately, treatment for these issues is fairly simple and easy.
Lip and tongue tie are treated via a minimally invasive surgery known as a frenectomy. During the procedure, we numb the mouth and then carefully modify or remove the frenulum that is restricting the oral tissues. Although some soreness may occur after the surgery, most patients recover quite quickly.
You may have to perform exercises and stretches for a while to maintain the results of the frenectomy. Children and adults who undergo this procedure might also need to undergo myofunctional therapy to learn how to properly use their oral structures.
