As an award-winning pediatric dentist and owner of Arlington Tongue Tie Center, Dr. Allie Lonneman prides herself on having a conservative approach when it comes to treating tongue-ties and lip-ties in infants and children.
She feels too many providers rush to release, which is resulting in the misdiagnosis and overtreatment of tongue-ties. Additionally, many parents are misinformed and led to believe a frenectomy is going to be a “magic fix”.
Dr. Allie has compiled a list of important things that she feels every parent should know about oral restrictions:
1. What is a tongue-tie?
A tongue-tie is a physical condition in which the tongue’s movement is restricted due to an attached lingual frenum that is too tight, too thick or too short. A frenum is a piece of connective tissue found between the tongue and the floor of the mouth.
2. Everyone has a frenum
Simply seeing a “string” under the tongue does not confirm the presence of a “tie”. It’s necessary to determine if the tissue allows full movement and function of the tongue or if a restriction of tongue mobility is present.
3. The tongue and lips are important for all oral functions
For this reason, having a tongue-tie or a lip-tie can lead to feeding, dental, speech, sleep or breathing problems.
4. Tongue-ties and lip-ties in infants and children can cause symptoms for babies and mothers
Babies with a tongue-tie and/or lip-tie may experience trouble latching, poor weight gain, clicking sounds while feeding, as well as increased air intake due to a disrupted seal leading to reflux symptoms and gassiness.
Mothers may experience symptoms like nipple pain, bleeding, ineffective breast drainage, clogged ducts, mastitis, and milk supply issues.
5. If a tongue-tie or lip-tie is present, a release known as a frenectomy is indicated.
The CO2 laser is the gold standard for the Laser Frenectomy procedure. The CO2 laser promotes rapid healing and minimizes the risk of bleeding and infection. It is also associated with the lowest intraoperative and post-operative pain, as well as the quickest procedure time.
Scissors pose challenges with hemostasis, precision, and the ability to navigate anatomical complexities with tongue-ties and lip-ties in infants and children.
6. Post-frenectomy care is essential
Post-frenectomy aftercare stretches and exercises are critical to help maintain and improve mobility and flexibility of the healing tissue. Follow up visits are done to evaluate the healing wound and ensure stretches are being done effectively.
It’s important to find a provider that requires aftercare stretches and provides in-person follow up visits.
7. The release of the frenum is just one piece of the puzzle
It takes teamwork to make the tongue work! Following a release, it takes time to figure out what to do with the new mobility of the tongue and lip, so continued support from professionals like lactation consultants, speech therapists/OT/PT, and myofunctional therapists is key to the success of treatment.
8. Many healthcare providers do not fully recognize the complexity of oral restrictions
Every restriction necessitates a referral to an appropriate specialist who can determine whether a release is needed. If your infant or child has symptoms listed above, it is recommended to consult with an IBCLC (International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant), feeding therapist, myofunctional therapist, or an experienced release provider.
9. Finding a release provider specializing in tongue-ties and lip-ties in infants and children
If your child has symptoms of an oral restriction, it is critical to find a conservative, experienced release provider.
Easy ways to identify a good release provider include asking the following questions: How many releases have you completed? An experienced provider completes releases every day and has completed hundreds of frenectomies.
Do you provide any aftercare exercises or follow-up visits? Follow-up is essential. If your release provider does not provide a 1-week follow-up, I would recommend finding a different provider.
Do you provide virtual follow-up? Follow-ups are being done to evaluate wound healing and ensure aftercare stretches are being done with enough tension. This is not possible to evaluate virtually.
Do you use a CO2 laser? If the provider uses scissors, a diode, or an erbium laser (like a WaterLase), I recommend finding a different provider to ensure your child is receiving treatment with the best tool.
10. Treatment is key!
Untreated tongue-ties and lip-ties can have long-term implications and lead to dental problems, speech delays, picky eating, improper development of the jaws, orthodontic issues, as well as sleep disordered breathing.
Meet. Dr. Lonneman
Dr. Allie Lonneman is the owner of Arlington Tongue Tie Center, a champion of breastfeeding and an advocate for parents wanting the best for their child’s oral health.
As a laser frenectomy specialist, she knows that tongue-ties and lip-ties in infants and children require a collaborative approach to treat appropriately. She believes in being conservative, not rushing to release and taking the time to confirm that a true symptomatic functional restriction is present.
Dr. Allie has successfully treated hundreds of babies with oral restrictions. Aside from being the most experienced release provider in Arlington, she is also the only pediatric dentist in Northern Virginia that has achieved certification through the American Board of Laser Surgery.
Dr. Allie uses a state-of-the-art CO2 Light Scalpel laser for a precise and gentle frenectomy procedure. All Arlington Tongue Tie Center parents should feel confident that their children are receiving the highest standard of care.
Arlington Tongue Tie Center is located inside its partner company, VK Pediatric Dentistry, at 5001 Langston Blvd. You can schedule an appointment online or call 703-457-1133. Visit their website for more information.
