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Allen's Top Frenectomies Center

Frenectomies

Frenectomies

TONGUE-TIES OR LIP-TIES

Dr. Taiym and Dr. Kamali are experienced in the diagnoses and treatment of mild to severe tongue-tie and/or lip-tie. The procedure is called a frenectomy. Dr. Taiym and Dr. Kamali have been performing frenectomy procedures for over 13 years. We do a full examination on each patient and determine that patient’s individual needs before giving the option of treatment. If treatment is recommended, we can perform the procedure the same day in most cases, especially because many of our patients drive from several hours away. We would be honored to care for your child and help you through understanding more about this misunderstood condition.

Tongue-Ties And Speech Problems

We frequently have children referred to our office from their speech therapists. Their primary concern is the inability for their patients to articulate their sounds due to a tongue-tie. Typically, speech therapy has been initiated, but with no significant improvement. Once it is realized that the tongue needs to be released, the results after the procedure are significant. Patients and speech therapists are amazed at the level of significant improvement after a tongue is released and a child is given the opportunity to fully realize the total mobility of a proper functioning tongue.

Infants With Nursing Problems

A new baby with a too tight tongue and/or lip frenum can have trouble sucking and may have poor weight gain. If they cannot make a good seal on the nipple, they may swallow air causing gas, colic, and reflux or spitting up. You may hear clicking noises when the baby is taking the breast or a bottle. Nursing mothers who experience significant pain while nursing or whose baby has trouble latching on should have their child evaluated for tongue and lip tie. It can also cause thrush, mastitis, nipple blanching, bleeding, or cracking in the mother and inability to hold a pacifier. The mother often reports it’s a “full time job” just to feed them because they are constantly hungry, not getting enough milk, and spitting up what they do get.

Although it is often overlooked or dismissed by other medical professionals, a tongue and lip-tie can very often be an underlying cause of feeding problems that not only affect a child’s weight gain, but lead many mothers to abandon breastfeeding altogether. Very often, after releasing the tongue and/or lip, mothers report immediate relief of pain and a deeper latch. The symptoms of reflux and colic almost disappear and weight gain occurs rapidly. The sooner the tongue-tie is addressed the better the child will learn to use his or her tongue correctly.

UPPER LIP-TIE

Upper lip tie is when the upper lip is tethered to the upper gum. Though most infants have some degree of upper lip tie, when it becomes large and tight enough, it may prevent the upper lip from flaring out or curling up which is essential for breast-feeding in order to create an adequate seal with the breast. Also, some infants with upper lip tie will exhibit an upper lip crease with the skin turning pale in an attempt to flare up during breast-feeding.

If the upper lip tie is tight enough, an infant may have trouble feeding even from a bottle.

TONGUE-TIE

Tongue tie (otherwise known as ankyloglossia) is when the tip of the tongue is anchored to the floor of the mouth. Tongue tie may extend all the way to the tip or it may extend partially to the tip resulting in a partial tongue tie. There is also a condition called posterior tongue tie in which the tongue tie is hidden under the tongue lining.

Regardless whether dealing with a newborn or an, the treatment is the same. But when it comes to newborns, tongue tie can lead to feeding problems which can be quite distressing to both child and mother.

With tongue tie, the tip of the tongue is unable to help the infant draw the nipple into the mouth. It also prevents the tongue from being normally positioned between the nipple and lower gumline leading the infant to chew on the nipple. Ouch!

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE VISIT

In general, the procedure is very well-tolerated by children. We take every measure to ensure that pain and stress during the procedure is minimized.

AFTERCARE STRETCH EXERCISES

The main risk of a frenectomy is that the mouth heals so quickly that it may prematurely reattach at either the tongue site or the lip site, causing a new limitation in mobility and the persistence or return of symptoms. The exercises are best done with the baby placed in your lap (or lying on a bed) with the feet going away from you.

Stretches

A small amount of spotting or bleeding is common after the procedure, especially in the first few days. Because a laser is being used, bleeding is minimized. Wash your hands well prior to your stretches (gloves aren’t necessary). apply a small amount of the teething gel to your finger prior to your stretches. The area of the surgery will have a diamond shape. Initially it will be pink to red in color, but will eventually turn white.

Timing:
Do one stretch on the evening of surgery. Then, skip ahead to the next morning (keep in mind that this is the only time that you should skip the overnight stretch).

Our recommendation is that stretches be done:
6x/day for the first 3 weeks, and then spending the 4th week quickly tapering from 6 to 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 per day before quitting completely at the end of the 4th week. We find it’s easiest for parents to do 5 of the stretches during their waking hours and one of those stretches in the middle of the night, taking care to not go more than 6 hours between stretches. Diaper changes are a good time to do the exercises.

Upper Lip Stretches

The Upper Lip is the easier of the 2 sites to stretch. If you must stretch both sites, We recommend that you start with the lip. Typically, babies don’t like either of the stretches and may cry, so starting with the lip allows you to get under the tongue easier once the baby starts to cry. For the upper lip, simply place your finger under the lip and move it up as high as it will go (until it bumps into resistance). Then gently sweep from side to side for 1-2 seconds. Remember, the main goal of this procedure is to insert your finger between the raw, opposing surfaces of the lip and the gum so they can’t stick together.

Tongue Stretches

The Tongue should be your next area to stretch. Insert both index fingers into the mouth (insert one in the mouth and go towards the cheek to stretch out the mouth, making room for your other index finger). Then use both index fingers to dive under the tongue and pick it up, towards the roof of baby’s mouth. Once you are under the tongue, try to pick the tongue up as high as it will go (towards the roof of the baby’s mouth). Hold it there for 1-2 seconds and then relax. Massage on either side of the diamond (outside the diamond) to loosen up the musculature of the remainder of the floor of mouth. You can use more pressure when doing these stretches because you aren’t in the wound at this point.

Post Frenectomy Exercises

Welcome To Our Dental Family

Jupiter Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics is accepting new patients of all ages. Call today to schedule an appointment. We offer a full suite of services, including Pediatric Services, Orthodontics, Myobrace®.

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What Our Patients Say About Us

207 Google Reviews
(4.8)Average Rating
Keon Arjmandi
Just took my 2 kids (age 2 and 4) to Jupiter Kids Dentistry. We had a wonderful experience and were very impressed with Dr. Kamali. The kids had a great time, im just happy the practice is so kid friendly, from front end staff to the doctor, we received a warm welcome. A great start to building a routine for the kids and getting them used to good teeth hygiene and cleanings.
(5)
Aug 25, 2022
Mona Noorizadeh
Jupiter kids dentistry is AMAZING! Everyone there from the front desk to your encounter with the dentist and hygienist are skilled, professional, and caring. Dr. Kamali is an excellent dentist that communicates well with her patients and treats patients with care and precision. She informed me of details step by step as she was examining my child’s teeth. Her assistant and hygienists are excellent as well and never seem to rush you. Everyone in the office is very caring and professional. I am so grateful for their services.
(5)
Apr 05, 2023
Selina Vance
Jupiter Dentistry is amazing! Dr. Kamali and Dr. Paradiso are both so gentle and calm with their patients. We can’t thank Dr. Kamali enough for pointing out my daughters enlarged tonsils and suggesting we see an ENT. She caught a problem we had no idea about that sent us down a rabbit hole of why our daughter was dealing with so many other problems(GI issues for 3 years, speech delay, mouth breathing and restless sleep). We had the removal surgery and ever since then, all of her problems have resolved! We were in shock that something so small could make such a huge change in our daughters health and well being. This is all thanks to Dr.Kamali for catching something that even our own pediatrician hadn’t caught. We can’t thank her enough.
(5)
May 19, 2023
dawn Bridges
It was my daughter's first dental visit and the staff was professional. This location was the first person to get back with me after all my inquiries at places. So they are quick to reply!! Would recommend.
(5)
Apr 18, 2023
Nirav Patel
Thank you to Jupiter Kids, they took amazing care of my daughters. The Drs. are so sweet and kind. They explained the treatment in detail and made sure my daughters were comfortable before starting. I highly recommend any parent over to Jupiter kids if you looking for a Pediatric Dentist. The service here is top tier in every capacity. It’s a blessing to have found them! I’m a forever patient.
(5)
Nov 02, 2022

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