Quick & Best Tongue Tie Treatment in Mississippi and Tennessee
Is your baby having difficulty in breastfeeding?
Is your child having speech difficulties?
Don’t worry; we got you! The condition suffered by your child is called tongue-tie. Tongue tie (ankyloglossia) is a congenital disability that limits the range of motion of the tongue. Tongue-tie is caused by a concise, thick, or tight band of tissue (lingual frenulum) tethering the bottom of the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth, which may interfere with breastfeeding. Someone who has a tongue tie may have difficulty sticking out their tongue.
Tongue-tie can also affect how a child eats, speaks, and swallows. Breastfeeding and even bottle feeding can be difficult when a baby has ankyloglossia. Tongue-tie may not always cause problems. In some cases, a simple surgical procedure called tongue tie treatment may be required to correct the situation.
Causes of Tongue Tie
Tongue Tie happens when the frenulum (the band of tissue under the tongue) does not separate from the tongue before birth. This could be due to genetics. Since the band of tissue is unusually short or thick, it creates a tightness to the tongue that limits its mobility as the child grows. Tongue Tie is commonly regarded as an isolated condition in children who do not have any other disorders. It is, however, occasionally associated with other syndromes.
Signs and Symptoms of Tongue Tie
Tongue Tie symptoms range from mild to severe. The tongue may resemble a heart or have a notch in it. In some cases, Tongue Tie is mild and does not interfere with daily life. The symptoms might differ based on the age group.
In Infants
- Lactation problems when breastfeeding
- Continuing to breastfeed for an extended period.
- Insatiable hunger
- While the child is feeding, there is a clicking sound.
- Irritation, frustration, and excessive crying
- Weight fluctuations or a small amount of weight gain
- Refusal to breastfeed
- When eating, experience gagging, choking, or coughing
- Frequently spits up
Tongue Tie Treatments
Tongue Tie treatment is debatable. Few doctors and lactation consultants advise correcting it as soon as possible, even before the newborn is released from the hospital. However, others prefer to wait and see.
The lingual frenulum may gradually soften, resolving tongue-tie. In some cases, Tongue Tie does not cause any problems. Breast-feeding can be helped in some cases by consulting with a lactation consultant, and speech therapy with a speech-language pathologist can help improve speech sounds.
If Tongue Tie creates trouble in infants, children, or adults, surgical treatment may be necessary. A frenotomy, frenuloplasty, or frenectomy are surgical procedures.
What is frenotomy, and how is it performed?
A frenotomy is a simple surgical procedure that can be performed with or without anesthesia in the hospital nursery or doctor's office.
The doctor examines the lingual frenulum before snipping it free with sterile scissors. As there are fewer nerve endings and blood vessels in the lingual frenulum, the procedure is quick and painless.
If there is any bleeding, it is most likely only a drop or two of blood. A baby can immediately breastfeed after the procedure.
Although frenotomy complications are uncommon, they may include bleeding, infection, or damage to the tongue or salivary glands. Scarring or reattachment of the frenulum to the base of the tongue is also possible.
What is frenuloplasty?
If the frenum is too thick for a frenotomy, a more invasive procedure is recommended. This is known as frenuloplasty is recommended.
A frenuloplasty is performed with surgical tools while under general anesthesia. After the Tongue Tie surgery, the wound is usually closed with sutures that absorb on their own as the tongue heals.
The risks of a frenuloplasty are bleeding, infection, or damage to the tongue or salivary glands. Scarring and anesthesia reactions are possible as a result of the more extensive nature of the procedure.
Tongue exercises may be recommended following a frenuloplasty to improve tongue movement and reduce the possibility of scarring.
How does laser frenectomy work?
A soft tissue laser does not cut; instead, light energy causes tissue to "vaporize." The laser causes minimal discomfort. The laser procedure causes almost no bleeding. Lasers sterilize on contact and thus pose a lower risk of infection. The healing process is very fast because a laser stimulates bio-regeneration and healing.
Laser Frenectomy Benefits
A soft tissue laser does not cut; instead, light energy causes tissue to "vaporize." The laser causes minimal discomfort. The laser procedure causes almost no bleeding. Lasers sterilize on contact and thus pose a lower risk of infection. The healing process is very fast because a laser stimulates bio-regeneration and healing.
- Treatment is completed in a single visit and is quick (usually 1-2 minutes).
- no bleeding, no sutures, and no need for general anesthesia or sedation
- Accelerated healing and recovery
- There is little pain or discomfort
- There is very little chance of reattachment
- Minimally invasive
- Feeding can and should be attempted immediately
- The treatment is completed in our office with best care and precautions taken
YOUR TOP RATED TONGUE TIE SPECIALIST IN THE MID-SOUTH
Know Your Tongue Tie Specialist
Dr. Pradeep Adatrow is the owner of Advanced Dental Implant and TMJ Center. Advanced Dental Implant and TMJ Center has been voted Desoto’s Best Dental Practice for three consecutive years, and Dr. Adatrow was recently awarded the 2020 Patient Satisfaction Award by Dental Insider, the Internet's largest dentist directory. Dr. Adatrow has been a full- time Professor and Director at the University of Tennessee for 14 years prior to establishing this practice in Southaven in January of 2016. He is a Board Certified Dual specialist in Dentistry (Peridontology and Prosthodontics ) and has been instrumental in teaching hundreds of dental students, placed more than 10,000 implants and helped hundreds of patients suffering with TMJ disorders and Gum Diseases.
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Frequently Asked Questions on Tongue Tie Treatment in Southaven, MS
What is a frenectomy?
What Is the difference between laser frenectomy and conventional frenectomy?
What is the working procedure of the Waterlase (Biolase) laser?
Will my insurance pay for the consultation or procedure?
How am I supposed to know about Tongue Tie if my pediatrician or primary care provider does not mention it?
What happens if Tongue Tie is left untreated?
- Breathing problems during sleep (SDB)
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Back, neck, and shoulder ache
- TMD/TMJ (jaw joint pain)
- Migraines or chronic headaches
Is it acceptable to breastfeed your baby before the procedure?
Why Advanced Dental Implants & TMJ Center?
Advanced, Dental & TMJ Center is one of the best dental clinics that provide personalized and specialized care and sedation dentistry in Memphis, Southaven, and Olive Branch areas. We have been successfully treating people from Desoto, Hernando, and Shelby counties of Tennessee and Mississippi states. Moreover, our clinic has been voted Desoto County's Best Dental Speciality Clinic for two years.
What are the complications of having a thick frenum?
- Speech difficulty - having a thick frenum can restrict your tongue movements and impede your speech abilities
- Diastema – Diastema is the spacing between your upper front tooth. A thick frenum placed lower than its usual position would lead to the massive spacing between the upper front tooth.
- Mouth breathing – Limited lip movement leads to an open mouth posture, leading to mouth breathing.
- Decreased confidence – If you or your kid has speech difficulty or huge spacing between your upper front teeth, it will impact your confidence in the public.
- Unstable denture – If you have a thick or highly placed frenum, it will interfere with your denture stability.
When is frenectomy required?
- When the lingual frenum is too long and stretches to the tip of the tongue, it may directly influence the tongue's function. A lingual frenectomy is required in this scenario.
- A large maxillary labial frenum, or attached close to the teeth, may create a gap between the two front teeth. A maxillary labial frenectomy has to be done to correct this situation.