Comprehensive Tongue and Lip Tie Treatment – Steel City Pediatric Dentistry's Untied Program

For Infants (0-18 Months)

Tongue and lip ties can cause significant challenges, especially during feeding. If your infant displays any of the following symptoms, a tongue or lip tie may be the cause:

• Shallow latch at the breast or bottle
• Frequent gagging, choking, or coughing during feeding
• Slow weight gain or difficulty maintaining weight
• Clicking or smacking noises while nursing
• Reflux or frequent spitting up
• Fussiness during or after feeding
• Restless sleeping or frequent waking
• Mouth breathing or snoring

These issues often lead to frustration for both the infant and the breastfeeding mother, making diagnosis and treatment crucial. If you notice any of these signs, contact us for an assessment.

For Breastfeeding Moms

Breastfeeding mothers can also experience difficulties due to tongue or lip tie. Symptoms you may notice include:

• Creased or flattened nipples after nursing
• Painful, blistered, or bleeding nipples
• Poor breast drainage, plugged ducts, or mastitis
• Reduced milk supply
• Difficulty nursing without using a nipple shield

If breastfeeding has become painful or challenging, it’s important to address the underlying cause. Our Untied program is designed to help both mother and child overcome these difficulties for a more comfortable feeding experience. Learn more about how we help breastfeeding moms in our patient info section.

For Children (18 Months - 12 Years)

As children grow, tongue and lip ties can present new challenges, especially with speech and eating habits. Common signs in older children include:

• Speech delays or difficulty with certain sounds
• Frustration while speaking or being difficult to understand
• Slow eating or picky eating, particularly with certain textures
• Difficulty transitioning to solid foods or a small appetite
• Mouth breathing or snoring
• Teeth grinding or jaw pain (TMJ symptoms)
• Sleeping with the mouth open or restless sleep

If your child is showing these signs, a tongue or lip tie could be affecting their ability to speak or eat properly. Early intervention and treatment can lead to significant improvements. Schedule a consultation with us today to discuss your child’s specific needs.

After your child undergoes laser treatment for tongue or lip tie, post-operative care is crucial to ensure proper healing and prevent reattachment. Here are the essential post-op guidelines:

• Stretching exercises: It's important to perform daily stretching exercises to maintain the newly released mobility of the tongue or lip. We provide a detailed video guide, courtesy of the Alabama Tongue-Tie Center, to demonstrate the proper stretches you can follow at home.
• Pain management: To manage any post-op discomfort, you can administer Tylenol (suitable for all ages) or Motrin (for children over 6 months old), as directed by your pediatrician.
• Follow-up care: We will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your child’s progress and ensure the tie has been fully released without complications.

With our laser treatment, recovery is typically quick, and you’ll likely see improvements in feeding, speech, and overall comfort immediately. If your child needs additional pediatric dental care, such as dental cleanings and exams, our friendly team is here to help.

Are you concerned that your child may have a tongue or lip tie? Early diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference in their feeding, speech, and development. Contact Steel City Pediatric Dentistry today at 412-313-5176 or email steelcitypediatricdentistry@gmail.com to schedule a consultation and learn more about our Untied program.

Explore more about our services or check our patient info page for further guidance.