Lip & Tongue-Tie Evaluation Bozeman
Unrestricted Oral Freedom for Lasting Health
A lip or tongue-tie can make it harder for you or your child to eat, speak, and even breathe. It can also hamper the development of the mouth and jaw, leading to teeth crowding and bite misalignment. Fortunately, Dr. Paul and our team at Bridger Orthodontics can provide a thorough evaluation to determine how they can be helped. Don’t let a lip or tongue-tie continue to cause problems. Call our office today.
Why Choose Bridger Orthodontics for Lip & Tongue-Tie Evaluations?
- Whole-Health Focus That Identifies Root Causes
- A Wide Range of Orthodontic Treatment Options Available
- Orthodontist Ensures Optimal Comfort During Every Visit
What is a Lip or Tongue Tie?
A lip or tongue-tie is a defect that results in a restricted band of tissue, also known as the lingual frenulum (tongue-tie) or labial frenulum (lip-tie), which can hinder the ability to eat, speak, and maintain good oral hygiene. The effects also include a gap between their front teeth and suboptimal jaw development.
How Can Lip and Tongue-Ties Affect Your Child?
Untreated lip and tongue-ties can result in various issues:
- Prevent your child from speaking clearly. Many often have a lisp.
- Make eating solid foods more difficult, as their tongue may be unable to push food toward the back of the mouth for swallowing.
- Increase the possibilities of cavities, crowding, and misalignment.
- Cause your child to breathe through their mouth or snore because their lip-tie will not allow them to close their lips while asleep.
- Lead to poor academic performance if your child is unable to get the rest they need each night.
- Make regular oral hygiene more difficult, especially if they have a gap caused by a lip-tie.
Common Symptoms of Lip & Tongue-Tie
You may wonder if your child has a lip or tongue-tie based on the following symptoms:
- They have a lisp that causes them to have trouble pronouncing certain words or sounds.
- They struggle to eat solid foods, which can lead to digestion issues.
- They cannot lift their tongue to the roof of their mouth or side to side.
- They have a gap between their upper front teeth.
- They struggle with gum irritation and uneven teeth.
- They wake up fatigued and are unable to focus both in and out of school.
Why Should I See An Orthodontist for Lip & Tongue-Ties?
These conditions can lead to poor dental development and jaw growth. Since a lip or tongue-tie can cause a narrow palate, gapped teeth, gum recession, overcrowding, an open or crossbite, and mouth breathing, orthodontics can be effective in addressing these problems.
Treatment for Lip & Tongue-Ties
Lip and tongue-tie treatment often includes a frenectomy, which releases the restricted tissue so the lip and tongue can move more freely. Dr. Paul works directly with pediatric dentists and specialists to complete this process with a safe, comfortable, and highly accurate dental laser. Additionally, myofunctional therapy can strengthen you or your child’s oral and facial muscles and encourage healthy breathing.