Bruce L. Elkind, DDS, PA
Cosmetic & Family Dentistry located in Royal Palm Beach, FL
Infants born with tongue-tie, a condition known as ankyloglossia, may have trouble eating, swallowing, and developing speech as they age. Bruce L. Elkind, DDS, PA, in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, treats infants with tongue-tie to improve their oral function. Call the office today or use the online tool to find out your child’s treatment options.
Tongue Tied Q&A
What is tongue-tie?
The lingual frenulum is the tissue that holds the bottom of the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth. When this band of tissue is too short, thick, or tight, it can restrict your baby’s ability to move their tongue. This is known as tongue-tie. Your child may be diagnosed upon birth or you may not notice until you bring your baby home.
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Why should I be concerned if my child has tongue-tie?
Tongue-tie may interfere with breast-feeding. Your baby may have trouble sticking out their tongue. As they age, tongue-tie may interfere with speech and their self-confidence.
Not all cases of tongue-tie cause problems, however. If you’re concerned, do reach out to Dr. Elkind for evaluation and treatment.
What symptoms suggest tongue-tie?
Signs of tongue-tie include:
- Difficulty sticking out their tongue past their lower front teeth
- Challenge in lifting their tongue to their upper teeth or moving their tongue from side to side
- A tongue that appears notched or heart shaped when stuck out
You should definitely reach out to Dr. Elkind if your baby is having trouble breast-feeding or is old enough to demonstrate problems with speech development. Older children may complain of trouble eating certain foods.
How is tongue-tie treated?
Sometimes, a wait-and-see approach is the best course of action. Your child may do just fine with a compromised frenulum. In some cases, the frenulum loosens on its own over time.
But, if you want your child’s tongue-tie fixed right away to avoid possible problems or your child is demonstrating troubles with breastfeeding or other oral function, Dr. Elkind offers a surgical solution.
A simple surgery, called a frenotomy, is performed right in the office of Dr. Elkind. He numbs the area and then uses Laser to snip the frenulum free. Discomfort is minimal as there aren’t a lot of nerve endings or blood vessels in this tissue. Your baby should be able to breastfeed immediately after the procedure.
If you’re concerned about tongue-tie, call the office of Bruce L. Elkind, DDS, for an appointment or use the online tool to schedule.
Contact us: Visit us at 9100 Belvedere Road #201 in Royal Palm Beach or call us at 561-798-4077.
