If your child has (or may have) a tongue tie, you could feel nervous right now. Fair enough – maybe you don’t know what fixing this issue would look like. However, the truth is that there’s nothing to fear; quality dentistry can smoothly and quickly solve the problem for you. In fact, your Hamilton pediatric dentist can prove it with some solid evidence. Here’s a primer on what you should expect before, during, and after tongue-tie treatment.
Before the Treatment
Of course, your child can’t get a tongue-tie treatment at a moment’s notice. They’ll need to go through some preparatory work before the procedure can happen.
To be specific, a pediatric dentist will give your child an oral exam first. This step relies on a screening tool to check their tongue’s appearance, ability to move, and so on. It especially looks for symptoms like an inability to stick the tongue out, side to side, or the roof of the mouth.
A dentist will see whether your child has a tongue tie based on the exam results. If the diagnosis is positive, they’ll draft a custom treatment plan for your little one. They’ll then move forward with the proper care.
During the Treatment
Not all tongue ties require surgery from a pediatric dentist. That said, most cases are solved by a treatment known as a frenectomy.
A frenectomy is a surgery that removes a kid’s lingual frenulum – the tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Often done with precise lasers, this tissue removal ensures a child can move their tongue around much more freely. It doesn’t even require anesthesia beforehand – it usually minimizes discomfort before and after care.
All in all, a frenectomy is usually a short procedure. Standard ones only last a minute or so, while those involving lasers only go a tad longer.
After the Treatment
Your child won’t be ready to go as usual after the tongue-tie treatment. They’ll need some aftercare to ensure they heal and recover well.
That said, how the aftercare looks will depend on your child’s age. If they’re just an infant, you should let them nurse right after treatment; breastfeeding is a natural pain reliever. Older kids would benefit from painkillers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) during the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Plus, they should practice some post-operative exercises to keep the frenulum from reattaching as they heal.
You should now grasp what happens before, during, and after tongue-tie treatment. So, go and take your little one to get care!
About the Practice
The Hamilton Lip & Tongue-Tie Center is based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Formed as part of Dr. Hamilton’s pediatric dental care, our practice strives to help all kids achieve stellar oral health. We do that through lip and tongue-tie treatments that improve lip and tongue flexibility! With this service, your children should be able to eat, speak, and sleep better than ever! For more details or to book a visit, please reach us on our website or by phone at (905)-525-8272.