Lip Tie Laser Surgery: Get It Fixed, Fast.
If you’ve recently had a baby, you may have noticed while breastfeeding that your baby has a lip tie. This is especially noticeable if your little one isn’t latching well and it hurts! If you’re noticing any difficulties, flip that upper lip up and check for a lip tie that looks like a thick divider that connects the upper lip to the gums. If this is the case, then your baby has a lip tie and needs lip tie laser surgery (a.k.a. frenectomy) immediately.
What is a Frenectomy?
A frenectomy is a quick procedure that we offer at Pickett Family Dental that can involve lip tie removal or tongue tie removal or both. Simply put, you’re able to bring your baby in preferably sooner, rather than later for the benefit of the baby and mom if you’re breastfeeding. Lip ties can cause immediate and long-lasting symptoms and problems.
Lip-Tie Symptoms:
- problems latching when breastfeeding
- difficulty breathing while breastfeeding
- falling asleep quickly during nursing
- fatigue
- slow weight gain
- colic
- clicking noise when nursing
Breastfeeding mother’s can also suffer when a baby struggles with a lip tie and may experience:
- pain during breastfeeding
- fatigue from constant breastfeeding, even though the baby never seems full and satisfied
- engorgement from constant small feedings
- mastitis, or blocked milk ducts which can also be quite painful
What will happen if I don’t get my baby’s lip tie removed?
The effects of non treatment of a lip tie or tongue tie can pass on into adulthood with more life-altering effects. These challenges can involve everything from speech problems from the restricted movement of the upper lip, lower lip, or tongue to migraines and jaw pain, deformities, emotional distress, and trouble smiling. These are just a few of the many symptoms caused by a lip tie being left untreated. If that’s not enough of a reason to get a lip tie removed on your baby right away, here’s a complete list of what your child may have to deal with during their lifetime:
INFANTS
- Poor latch, unable to sustain a latch
- Colic & excessive gassiness
- The baby can lose suctino while feeding and end up sucking in air
- Reflux
- Difficulty with adequate milk intake
- Poor weight gain
- A clicking sound may be heard when the baby is feeding
- Falling asleep on the breast
- Extended nursing episodes
- Unable to develop a deep enough latch
- Early weaning from the breast
- Tongue cannot be moved sideways
- Tongue cannot protrude beyond the baby’s lips
- Tongue tip may be notched or heart-shaped
- Restricted mobility interferes with bottle feeding
- Gap between the front teeth
- When extended, the tongue tip may look flat or square instead of pointed
- Difficult for babies to attach to the breast or bottle correctly as it is harder for them to maintain a good seal
- Restrict movement of the upper lip preventing it from being able to flange or ‘pull out
Children
- Inability to chew age appropriate solid foods
- Gagging, choking or vomiting foods
- Persisting food fads
- Difficulties related to dental hygiene
- Persistence of dribbling
- Delayed development of speech
- Deterioration in speech
- Behaviour problems
- Dental problems starting to appear
- Loss of self confidence because they feel and sound ‘different’
- Airway issues
- Mouth breathing
- Snoring
Teenagers & Adults
- Inability to open the mouth widely affects speech and eating habits.
- Always having to watch their speech
- Inability to speak clearly when talking fast/loud/soft
- Difficulty talking after even moderate amount of alcohol
- Clicky and/or painful jaws
- Migraines
- Protrusion of the lower jaws
- Multiple effects in work situations.
- Effects on social situations, eating out, kissing, relationships
- Dental health, a tendency to have inflamed gums, and increased need for fillings and extractions
- Sensitivity about personal appearance
- Emotional factors resulting in rising level of stress
- Tongue tie in the elderly often makes it difficult to keep a denture in place
