Cosmetic Dental Clinic

Cosmetic Dental Clinic | If an infant is unable to properly feed, they may have a condition known as tongue-tie, which restricts the motion of the tongue. Such an infant cannot properly move their tongue to drink enough milk. As a result, they may be constantly hungry and losing weight if they are not treated promptly.

Many parents are unfamiliar with this condition, and as the child gets older, they can have problems chewing and speaking. Fortunately, a treatment with a CO2 laser from a cosmetic dental clinic can free the tongue and the problems that came with the condition.

The symptoms of tongue-tie may include the following:

• Difficulty moving the tongue, especially from side to side
• Infant appears to gasp for air while feeding
• Child falls asleep rapidly when feeding
• Infant uses their gums to latch
• Gulping milk
• Low weight
• Cannot use a pacifier or prefers bottle to breast

In addition to difficulty with feeding, a child with tongue-tie can develop oral problems like tooth decay and gum disease. The tongue plays a role in helping keep teeth clean. Its correct position also makes it more likely that teeth develop properly without spaces or gaps.

What is tongue-tie?

Tongue-tie is a condition that develops in the womb due to an inherited gene mutation. The frenulum is a small tissue band extending from the mouth floor to the bottom of the tongue. A baby born with tongue-tie has a too-short or thick frenulum, which restricts the movement of the tongue.

Surgical Release

Many infants are held by a surgical tongue-tie release procedure; however, this type of surgery does not come without complications. Some potential complications following the procedure include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Tongue damage
• Damage to salivary glands
• Regrowth of tongue-tie if post-procedure steps are not followed properly

CO2 Laser vs. Other Laser Treatments

It comes down to burning versus vaporizing. In contrast to a diode laser that basically burns away soft tissue, a CO2 laser vaporizes this tissue. That leads to a much more gentle treatment that does not involve damage to tissues nearby or create heat. As a result, your child will experience less discomfort and heal more rapidly at your cosmetic dental clinic.

Another benefit of using a CO2 laser to treat tongue-tie at your cosmetic dental clinic is that risks and complications are reduced. The laser effectively seals the area, resulting in little to no bleeding.

As if that weren’t enough, a CO2 laser tongue-tie treatment greatly reduces the risk of infection because  as it’s working, it is also disinfecting the wound.

Schedule Your Consultation

Spare your child the unnecessary risks and discomfort that are involved with the expected bleeding and stitches/sutures necessary after a conventional tongue-tie release procedure. Contact your cosmetic dental clinic today at 781-861-7645  to book your convenient consultation as your first step in freeing your child from this medical condition.