Tongue-Ties, Lip-Ties and "Tethered Tissue"
A Lifelong Issue
Tongue and Lip Ties are both versions of "tethered tissues". They restrict the normal movement of the tongue or lip. This may be noticed after birth if a baby has difficulty latching onto the mother's breast to feed. When identified, the restricted tissue may be snipped with a small pair of scissors or laser to release the tongue or lip to allow better feeding. When snipping a moving target such as a baby's tongue, it is understandable that the procedure, while helpful, is incomplete and only partially done. This may be enough for the baby to improve feeding.
In these cases, and the massive number of babies where the restriction goes unnoticed, the problem may manifest in other ways. Confusion commonly occurs when people think a tie has to extend to the tip of the tongue or throughout the entire lip to be a problem. The important thing to evaluate is for inadequate tongue mobility as it comes in many forms.
Normal:
During development of your tongue and lip, a process called apoptosis occurs where some tissue on the underside of the tongue as well as the underside of the upper lip dies, leaving the normal shape we commonly see.
The Problem:
When this extra tissue does not go away, the excess tissue can restrict the tongue or lip causing dangerous short-term as well as long-term medical problems.
Our Mission:
Our mission is to improve patient's lives through treatment and better research.
Potential Problems Associated with Tongue and Lip Ties:
LOW TONGUE POSTURE MAY LEAD TO:
-Neck and shoulder tension
-Open mouth breathing (day/night)
-Frustration with communication
-Trouble with speech sounds
-Teeth grinding/TMJ
-Frequent headaches
-Sleep apnea
-Difficulty swallowing pills
-Abnormal jaw growth
-Decreased oxygen intake
-Dental crowding
-Increased risk of heart disease
-Increased risk of diabetes
RELEASE PROCEDURES:
Removing the "string" that restricts tongue or lip movement is quickly and safely performed with a CO2 laser in a matter of seconds.
Improvement is a TEAM effort. The full benefit of a release is often aided with other professionals and specialties such as orofacial myologists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, lactation consultants, and speech therapist.
MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE FOLLOWING AFTER A RELEASE:
- Better sleep
- Easier to breathe through nose
- Easier to swallow pills
- Less issues with food textures
- Less back and neck tension
- More relaxed, less leg tension
- Fewer headaches
- Decreased open mouth breathing while sleeping
-Removing the "string" that restricts tongue or lip movement is quickly and safely performed with a laser in a matter of seconds.
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Dr. Dickerson is very happy to be an ambassador for The Breathe Institute, which is on the leading edge of research and treatment for airway restrictions.