Dentist in Tucson discusses laser frenectomy treatment of newborn babies who have trouble breastfeeding

Estimates show that as many as 10 percent of children have some frenulum restriction, more commonly known as tongue tie or lip tie. This condition occurs when a baby’s tongue or lip is attached with too much connective tissue, which can make it challenging to move the tongue or lips. This can cause minor inconveniences or severe challenges such as newborn babies who have trouble breastfeeding and pain for mom. It can also affect speech for older children.

There are several indications of a frenulum restriction which most often show up during breast or bottle feeding. These signs include an infant’s inability to gain weight, feeding less than two hours apart, painful breastfeeding for the mother, or cracking, bleeding, or bruising of the nipple. Sometimes a tongue or lip tie is not identified when the child is an infant. In these case symptoms present as the child grows and include an inability to fully extend the tongue, delayed speech, trouble swallowing, or even catching the frenulum between the teeth.

To address the frenulum issue, a laser frenectomy is often used. This procedure, which is performed by a dentist only takes one to two minutes to complete. The laser is used to detach the excessive webbing and is a preferred treatment to traditional methods such as cutting the frenulum. Advantages of this treatment method include the precision of the laser, limited or no bleeding, and less risk of infection.

Individuals who undergo a frenectomy are likely to experience some discomfort for a day or two following the procedure. Dr. Krizman offers homeopathic pain remedies in her office.

Dr. Jeanne Anne Krizman of Tucson Biological Dentistryis a trusted and respected dentist and integrative medical doctor in the Tucson, AZ, area. She helps her patients and their families manage their oral health with gentle, skilled, and experienced care. For more information about the Tucson Biological Dentistry practice or to schedule an evaluation for a frenectomy, call the Tucson Biological Dentistry office today.

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