Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment – Chesterfield, MO
Releasing Restricted Tissues for Greater Oral Movement
The inability of a baby to use its tongue or lip can create many problems for both you and your little one. Nursing, bottle-feeding, and the bonding time that comes with these practices can be hindered because of a lip or tongue tie. But Dr. Homer Sedighi can change that with the help of frenectomies. As a safe and proven effective method of treatment, he can release the restricted tissues to ensure greater oral movement moving forward. Call our office today if you suspect that your child may be suffering from a lip or tongue tie.
How Do Lip and Tongue Ties Develop?
A lip or tongue tie forms while a baby is still inside the womb. When born, most children experience no issues with the movement of their lip and/or tongue; however, if the band of tissue behind the upper lip or underneath the tongue is too tight, it’s likely to cause problems during infancy.
Some of the most common symptoms associated with a lip or tongue tie include:
- Fussiness
- Poor latch during nursing
- Difficulty keeping a bottle inside their mouth
- Acid reflux and/or colic
- Prolonged feedings, which lead to exhaustion
- Painful breastfeeding
- Clogged milk ducts
- Baby is unable to keep a pacifier in their mouth
- Blocked or clogged milk ducts
Why Is It Important to Treat Lip & Tongue Ties?
There is a high probability that if your little one has a lip or tongue tie, it will be detected and possibly even treated before you leave the hospital with your baby. But if you get home and do not notice the problem until a bit later, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist right away.
Refusing to seek treatment early on can put your baby at risk of possible problems now and in the future, such as:
- The inability to breathe freely throughout the night
- Mouth breathing
- The development of a speech impediment (i.e., a lisp)
- Large gap between the upper front two teeth, which can be embarrassing and increase the risk of gum disease
- Have difficulty swallowing certain foods
Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment
Dr. Homer Sedighi believes in providing effective solutions that are not only safe for little smiles but also comfortable.
When a patient arrives claiming that their little one has a lip or tongue tie, he will begin by examining the area in question to determine if the restricted tissue is tight and thick enough to warrant treatment. If so, he will formulate a treatment plan so that you can review it before making a final decision.
If you should decide to move forward with a frenectomy, you can expect that your little one will remain calm and free of stress because of how he makes the process as easy as possible. By quickly releasing the tethered tissue, your baby will begin to immediately have a greater range of motion so that they can begin to nurse following the appointment.
Although it may take a small amount of time for your baby to become accustomed to the new movement, they will take to it quickly, and you and your baby will be much happier in the end.