Milton Ntragatakis, DDS, MSD
Brittany Heffernan, DDS
Derek Demianczyk, DMD
Joanne Tan, DMD
Pediatric Dentists
Preparing for your child's Frenectomy
Preparing for your visit
We understand that preparing for an infant frenectomy can cause worry, so we would like to help you prepare to keep your appointment as stress free as possible. Below are some ways to help you prepare for your visit. We look forward to meeting you!
What is a tongue tie
A tongue tie is a condition a person is born with. The thin tissue under the tongue restricts the tongue's movement. All babies have an attachment under the tongue, but in 13% of babies, the tissue is not able to move correctly and therefore, not function correctly. When the attachment is so tight that symptoms develop, and the quality of life is impacted, this is considered to be a 'tie.' Tongue ties can lead to difficulties with breast and bottle feeding, speech, breathing, and digestion. Ties can also lead to dental decay and crowding as the child ages.
Common Symptoms Associated with Ties
Symptoms for Infants
- Difficulty latching
- Falls asleep during feeds
- Reflux or frequent spit up
- Poor weight gain
- Frequent feeds • Clogged ducts
- Snoring, heavy or mouth breathing
- Difficulty with pacifier
- Gagging, choking, coughing
- Milk dribbling from mouth
- Gassiness
- Colic
- Torticollis
Symptoms for Moms
- Creased, cracked, blanched nipples
- Painful latching
- Incomplete emptying, or engorgement after feeds
- Over or under milk supply
- Strong letdown
- Mastitis
What is a lip tie?
A lip tie is an attachment of the upper lip to the gum tissue. When these tissues are too tight,they can prevent the lip from freely moving, preventing an excellent latch. This can lead to discomfort for mom while feeding, difficulty achieving or maintaining a latch, and the intake of air.
How do you treat a tie?
- An exam evaluating all oral tissues is completed.
- If it is determined your child has (a) tie(s), a simple procedure called a frenectomy is performed. (Not every baby needs treatment.)
- Numbing jelly is placed on the ties to minimize discomfort during the procedure.
- The baby is taken to the treatment room. Parents will wait in the private consultation room during the procedure.
- The baby will be swaddled for safety and comfort, and a sound machine is used to relax the baby.
- A laser is used to eliminate the ties. This allows for a quick procedure with minimal bleeding and low risk.
- The procedure is well tolerated by infants, but crying and fussiness can be expected during, and initially after, the procedure.
- A demonstration of stretches to prevent reattachment will be completed with the caregivers/parents.
- Parents and caregivers are welcome to use the private consultation room for feeding and soothing the baby.
Next Steps
Step 1: Build your support system.
It is important to have an excellent support system to achieve our feeding goals. We recommend seeing a lactation consultant prior to your visit for a functional assessment. We also encourage returning to your lactation consultant after the procedure to form new optimal feeding habits.
If your baby has lots of tension, prefers one side over the other when feeding, or was born with torticollis, seeing a chiropractor can be advantageous. Seeing the chiropractor prior to the visit can lay an excellent foundation for success, and returning afterwards can help with any residual tension that may exist. Seeing additional providers is not a requirement for treatment at our office, but if you do see a lactation consultant, chiropractor, or other provider with treatment related to their ties, we would love to hear from them! Please have them complete the referral form linked below.
Finally, friends and family who can help care for both you and your baby are wonderful! We know that the journey to optimal feeding can be a challenge. It is important to have other to cheer you on and support you in this process! Your Brunswick KiDDS family is here to help support you, so do not hesitate to reach out to us at any step of the process.
Step 2: Complete the pre-visit paperwork.
We encourage completing paperwork prior to your visit to both save you time and make the visit less stressful. Please fill out the Infant Assessment Form and Medical History Form found below. Please plan to set aside about 20 min to complete the paperwork.
Step 3: Have medication on hand to help with discomfort.
It is very helpful to have medications on hand to help with the discomfort from the procedure, so that you are able to focus all your attention on your little one! You do not need to give any medication after the procedure, but minimizing discomfort can help the baby feed more comfortably and ideally. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is an excellent option and safe for your infant. We recommend consulting with your pediatrician for use in infants less than 6 pounds. The concentration to purchase is 160mg/5ml. Arnica is a homeopathic remedy. We recommend the 30c pellet form. This can be found at natural food stores and stores like Whole Foods, GNC and Vitamin Shoppe.
330.220.6363
1824 Pearl Road
Brunswick, Ohio 44212
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