Tongue and lip ties in infants, children, and teenagers can be easily treated by Dr. Mary Millkey utilizing her state-of-the-art CO2 laser. The procedure, called a frenectomy, releases the frenum, a band of fibrous tissue, under the tongue or upper lip to allow for improved range of motion.
Babies born with ankyloglossia, the term for this restrictive tethered oral tissue, can have trouble with breastfeeding, failure to gain weight, fussiness, and regurgitation.
Untreated ties in children can impede the ability to speak clearly and can also lead to mouth breathing, snoring, teeth grinding, and sleep apnea. This sleep disordered breathing can cause behavioral problems, bed wetting, and symptoms that can be misdiagnosed as ADHD.
In children, adolescents, and teenagers, a wide upper frenum can cause a large gap between the teeth, called a diastema. While orthodontics may be needed in conjunction to removing thick fibrous tissue, some spontaneous closure of the gap can be anticipated.
Dr. Millkey’s laser doesn’t “cut” or “snip” the frenum; instead, it vaporizes the tissue and seals the edges. No stitches are needed, and there is almost no bleeding or post-operative pain.
In addition to lip and tongue ties, Dr. Millkey can remove excess gum tissue that may overgrow during orthodontic treatment. Using this laser, she can painlessly uncover teeth that are taking too long to erupt and can even treat painful ulcers in the mouth or cold sores on the lip, resulting in instant pain relief and faster healing time.