At Bell Hill Dental, our goal is to help your child stay healthy and thrive! But sometimes, certain issues arise that can affect their development and hinder their oral movements. One of these issues is a tongue-tie; fortunately, we offer tongue-tie release using a dental laser.
Let’s explore what you need to know about this minor surgical procedure.
Understanding the Why: When to Seek a Tongue-Tie Assessment
In your child’s mouth, there are bands of tissue between their upper lip and gums, lower lip and gums, under their tongue, and inside their cheek. Sometimes, these bands become enlarged or too tight, and this can lead to issues with eating, breastfeeding, sleeping or breathing.
We recommend contacting our dental clinic if you notice any of the following:
- Inability to latch on while breastfeeding
- Excessive drooling, reflux or gassiness
- Clicking sounds while feeding
- Trouble moving their tongue from side to side or out past their bottom teeth
- Speech delays or trouble with certain sounds
- Persistent mouth breathing
Step 1: The Comprehensive Clinical Consultation
Our dental clinic is the only one in the area using a dental laser for tongue-tie release. When you visit us for a consultation, we’ll discuss your concerns and explain the treatment process.
Step 2: The Physical Examination of the Frenulum
Next, we’ll perform a physical examination of your child’s frenulum, observing its appearance and thickness. We’ll also examine their lip and tongue, checking functionality.
Step 3: Determining if Treatment (Frenotomy) is Necessary
Many babies with a tight frenulum don’t need treatment. However, if a tongue-tie is causing issues with breastfeeding or speech, we can often perform the procedure in about two minutes with our dental laser.
In many cases, we don’t need sedation or anaesthesia, and you’ll be back home with your little one soon afterwards.
Need an Infant Tongue Tie Assessment in Dunedin?
Instead of searching online for “laser tongue tie release for infants NZ,” let our experienced team guide you through the tongue-tie process. We’ll answer your questions and give you the peace of mind you deserve, and we’ll offer gentle, comfortable treatment to your little one.
To book a visit with us, feel free to call us on 03-477 8387.