Aesthetic Laser Dentistry in Melbourne are dedicated to providing both of you with a solution
Despite the relatively low levels of awareness concerning tongue-ties, it is a problem that can be easily solved. Medical professionals are finally starting to become more aware of the issue and many more mums are seeking treatment.
What is a tongue-tie?
It sometimes happens that the thin piece of tissue (or frenum) under an infant’s tongue or lip can be too short. This restricts the movement of either the lips or the tongue itself. It can lead to your baby having trouble latching their mouth on during breastfeeding and may result in the baby not feeding as well as they should. It can also prove to be an obstacle to the baby’s swallowing and breathing as the tongue is an essential part of those functions.
Should tongue-ties not be corrected during infancy, it will persist right through adulthood. If left untreated, it can be very debilitating. Due to the fact that infants are very rarely brought to the dentist before the age of two, it is something that has gone largely undocumented.
What are the symptoms of tongue-ties?
Tongue-ties are notoriously difficult to diagnose for those who are not medical professionals as the symptoms can often go unseen if you are not looking for them specifically. Some of the more common symptoms of tongue-ties include:
A lack of weight gain
Colic or reflux in excess
A gassy baby
For the mother: pain or discomfort during breastfeeding
Sore or cracked nipples
Tongue-tie treatment options from Aesthetic Laser Dentistry
Tongue-tie treatments atAesthetic Laser Dentistry involve the use of a special soft-tissue laser that ensures a clean incision without needing stitches. There is minimal discomfort, and the procedure is over quite quickly and once done, will enable your baby to use the full range of motion in their tongue.
The best time to have this treatment done is as early as possible. This may well be within one week of birth. Having the procedure completed before the age of 10 months allows us to complete the treatment in our practice with relative ease. After this age we are then waiting till after the age of two and with the added complexity and expense of a general anaesthetic in a private day procedure centre setting.
We usually recommend that you come and see us first so we can assess your baby’s situation. The sooner the issue is resolved, the sooner your baby will be nourished, healthy and happy.
If your baby is having trouble latching on or struggling with tongue mobility, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us about a consultation.
Why choose Aesthetic Laser Dentistry?
From our practice in Melbourne, the team at Aesthetic Laser Dentistry work closely with all of our patients to ensure their needs are met. We provide exceptional standards of dentistry and are passionate about, and place a strong emphasis on, being patient-centric.
By educating our patients, we empower them, so they can make informed decisions when it comes to their health. Our team is comprised of highly experienced and highly trained staff who are masters of their respective crafts and want nothing more than to exceed your expectations.
Our aim is to educate you, while finding the very best solution for your dental concerns.
This philosophy is extended to all sectors of the practice and this includes treatments for tongue-ties.
To make an appointment or to find out more about tongue-tie treatments, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team today.
