Lip and Tongue Tie Dentist – Tulsa, OK

Are you experiencing difficulty breastfeeding? Does your little one not want to take a bottle? A lip or tongue-tie in Tulsa can be the reason. Although many children are born with a restricted frenulum, it can be worrisome and overwhelming for both nursing parents and growing children. By allowing Glisten Dental to correct this common problem, it can not only make the early bonding years more special, but it can also be beneficial to preventing additional issues (i.e., speech, self-esteem problems, etc.) in the future. Contact our team today to find out if your child could benefit from lip and tongue-tie treatment.

What is a Lip/Tongue-Tie?

Underneath the tongue and behind the upper lip are bands of tissue known as frenulums. When these areas are short and thick, it can cause them to be restricted, inhibiting your child’s lip and/or tongue to have a full range of motion. Not only can this be a problem while breastfeeding, but it can also lead to poor weight gain and even speech delays during childhood and even adolescence. Your child may also find it difficult to brush and floss their teeth, be at risk for cavities, and suffer orthodontic problems.

What Are the Signs of a Lip/Tongue-Tie?

A lip or tongue-tie is typically identified not long after a child is born. However, if it goes undetected in the beginning, you can look for these signs to tell you if there is a problem:

• Difficulty latching while attempting to nurse
• Difficulty using a bottle
• Unable to keep a pacifier in their mouth
• Slow weight gain
• Experiencing acid reflux or colic
• Gumming at the nipple while trying to nurse

As a nursing parent, you may also discover your child has a lip or tongue-tie should you:

• Have sore or cracked nipples
• Notice a swelling of your breasts
• Have a low milk supply

How is a Lip or Tongue-Tie Treated?

At Glisten Dental, Dr. Nauman is no stranger to performing frenectomies in Tulsa to fix a child’s lip or tongue-tie. Using a dental laser, Dr. Nauman applies a topical anesthetic to the area before detaching the frenulum from the tongue. One of the greatest benefits of a frenectomy is that the procedure is quick— taking only about five minutes.

The sooner we perform a frenectomy the sooner your baby will be able to adequately move their tongue to breastfeed and swallow.