Does your child have a tongue tie in McKinney? Are you concerned there may be an issue that is causing you to experience difficulties nursing? If you suspect your baby has a restricted band of tissue keeping them from being able to effectively latch or take a bottle, make sure to reach out to Dr. Justin or Dr. Sage at Sprout Dentistry for Kids. With the help of a tongue assessment, they can put your little one on the right bath while providing improved oral function. Read on to learn more about what happens during an assessment and how a tongue tie is treated.
What Happens During a Tongue Tie Assessment?
While you are not required to have your child assessed for a tongue tie, you will find it is highly beneficial, especially if you begin to notice there might be a problem. Fussy babies who cannot latch during breastfeeding as well as those who struggle to take a bottle can often have a restricted lingual frenulum (tongue tie). As a result, they cannot move their tongues side to side or in and out quite as far. This can make simple tasks like eating, speaking, and even breathing more difficult.
Although many assessments are done while a baby is still in the hospital after birth, many dentists recommend bringing a child in once you begin to notice there might be a problem. The tongue tie assessment in McKinney is easy to perform and causes no pain to your little one.
The child’s pediatric dentist will lay your child on their lap and swipe their finger inside the baby’s mouth. When a cry is elicited, the tongue should lift slightly; however, if it remains flat against the floor of the mouth, this is an indicator of a tongue tie. Also, when moving their finger along the baby’s gum line, the child’s tongue should follow. If it does not, there’s a good chance a tongue tie is the problem.
How a Frenectomy Can Change the Game
Should your child’s pediatric dentist declare that a tongue tie is indeed the issue, the recommended course of action is to perform a frenectomy. Although no parent wants their little one to endure an oral procedure at such a young age, the reality is that it is quick, easy, and virtually painless. Because Dr. Justin and Dr. Sage use a dental laser, the process takes very little time to complete.
Because of how fast (less than one minute), precise, and pain-free the use of the Solea soft tissue laser is, the restricted tissue will be cauterized in the process, preventing bleeding while also sterilizing the nearby tissues.
Once the procedure is complete, your child’s dentist will provide step-by-step instructions regarding how to ensure maximum tongue movement to avoid potential reattachment in the following weeks.
Having your baby’s tongue tie assessed will allow them a greater range of motion, which will benefit both you and your child. And, by treating the problem early on, you can eliminate potential problems that often occur when entering childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
About the Authors
At Sprout Dentistry for Kids, Dr. Justin Chan and Dr. Sage Yoo are board-certified pediatric dentists who are fathers first. Recognizing a tongue tie may not be easily recognizable for most parents, our team is here to provide an assessment to determine if treatment for tethered oral tissues is necessary. If you want to have your little one checked for a tongue or lip tie, visit our website or call (469) 294-8217.