Symptoms

Does your child:

Have difficulty Latching or Breastfeeding pain for mother
Have difficulty pronouncing L's and R's (speech issues)
Snore or Mouth-breadth, Restricted Airway
Have a high palate, v-shaped, nasal speech
Large space between the two front teeth
Chewing or swallowing problems
Difficulty brushing upper teeth/cavities along the gumline of upper teeth

If so, your child can be suffering from a Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs). TOTs are also known as frenum ties of the lip or tongue.

Normally, Tethered Oral Tissues undergo apoptosis (normal programmed cell death) while the child is in the womb (similar to how webbing of fingers and toes is removed before birth).

However, in about 5-10% of children, this process does not occur properly and we are left with tongue and lip ties.

Treatment and Release

The treatment for tongue / lip tie is relatively simple. Our dentists simply release the tied tissue with a laser to allow the tongue and lip to move freely. Since the tissue is released with a laser, the resulting tissue has minimal bleeding and pain. In most instances, breastfeeding improvement can be seen immediately.

Since the condition is so prevalent, you probably know someone – a family member, friend, colleague or acquaintance – that could benefit from tongue tie treatment for their child. One of the most common questions from parents of children with this condition is: “Where can I find a dentist specializing in tongue tie treatment near me?”

At Silicon Valley Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics we have the expertise and tools needed to help treat patients that suffer with tongue tie or lip tie.