Breastfeeding Struggles? Find Relief with Tongue-Tie & Lip-Tie Treatment
Those first few months with your newborn should be filled with precious bonding moments, not struggles with breastfeeding due to tongue-ties or lip-ties. If your baby is having latch difficulties or you’re worried about the long-term impacts of these oral restrictions, the compassionate dental team at Broadway Dentistry in Broadway, VA, is here to help.
Led by Dr. Jared Kneib, we specialize in treating tongue-ties and lip-ties through gentle laser frenectomies. We’ll carefully evaluate your little one’s condition and provide skilled laser treatment to release the restrictive ties, allowing proper feedings now and preventing future speech or dental issues. Your child’s health and well-being are our top priorities.
What are Tongue Ties and Lip Ties?
Tongue ties occur when the frenulum (the band of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth) is too short or tight. This restricted mobility can impact a baby’s ability to breastfeed properly and may lead to speech difficulties down the road.
Lip ties involve the frenulum connecting the upper lip to the gum ridge being abnormally tight or attached too far forward. This lip restriction limits lip mobility and can interfere with a proper breastfeeding latch as well as facial muscle development.
Both tongue ties and lip ties are congenital conditions present from birth. While they often go undiagnosed, our Broadway, VA, dentist has extensive training in identifying and treating these oral restrictions.
Tongue-tie and Lip tie Solution Process
After a thorough examination to diagnose the presence and severity of tongue ties or lip ties, Dr. Kneib will recommend the best treatment approach. For many babies and young children, a simple in-office procedure using soft tissue laser technology can successfully revise the restrictive frenulum.
This laser frenectomy is a precise, minimally invasive treatment that quickly releases the tight oral restrictions. Recovery is fast, with reduced bleeding, swelling, and discomfort compared to traditional surgical methods.
Dr. Kneib and his warm, caring team in Broadway, VA, take every measure to guarantee your child’s comfort and safety throughout the straightforward procedure. Follow-up visits monitor healing and provide any additional aftercare instructions.
How Can This Procedure Help My Baby?
Revising problematic tongue ties and lip ties offers a multitude of benefits for your baby’s oral function and development:
- Improved latching and breastfeeding ability
- Better milk transfer for proper nutrition
- Reduced risk of issues like dental decay, speech impediments, and airway obstruction
- Facilitated proper growth and development of the mouth and facial muscles
Untreated oral restrictions can not only hinder successful breastfeeding but may also cause long-term challenges with speech articulation, swallowing, tooth alignment, and proper breathing and sleeping patterns.
By promptly treating tongue ties and lip ties with Dr. Kneib’s skilled laser revision technique in Broadway, VA, you’re giving your little one the best chance at proper feeding, speech development, and oral health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ideally, these oral restrictions should be evaluated and treated as early as possible to prevent issues with breastfeeding and development. Dr. Kneib commonly performs laser frenectomies on newborns and young infants at his Broadway, VA, practice.
The laser revision is extremely gentle, with much less discomfort compared to traditional surgical methods. Topical anesthesia numbs the area, and babies typically experience very little distress during the quick procedure.
Most babies resume regular breastfeeding immediately after the procedure, with noticeable improvements in latch and feeding ability. A few days of minor residual discomfort and restricted activities allow for proper healing.
Yes, untreated oral restrictions can persist into childhood and adulthood, potentially contributing to speech difficulties, dental misalignment, sleep apnea, and other problems. While it is ideal to treat early, tongue-tie and lip-tie revisions can still provide significant benefits at any age.
