When your baby struggles with feeding or your child faces unexplained speech challenges, a tongue or lip tie might be the underlying cause of these frustrating developmental hurdles. These common oral restrictions—tight bands of tissue that limit proper tongue or lip movement—generate countless questions from concerned parents seeking answers and solutions.
Flourish Tongue Tie Center provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for tongue and lip ties in Erie and surrounding communities. Dr. Namrata Hardy combines her board certification in pediatric dentistry with specialized training in oral restrictions and their impact on development. Our team works closely with lactation consultants, speech therapists, and bodywork professionals to ensure complete care through every stage of your child’s journey. We understand the challenges these conditions create for families and are committed to providing clear, evidence-based answers to guide your decisions about your child’s care.
What Are the Signs of Tongue Ties in Infants?
Identifying a tongue tie early can prevent months of feeding difficulties and discomfort. In newborns and infants, common symptoms include poor latch during breastfeeding, clicking sounds while nursing, insufficient weight gain, and excessive gas or colic.
For mothers, signs often manifest as severe nipple pain, damaged nipples, reduced milk supply, or mastitis. Many families in Erie seek help after struggling with these challenges for weeks or even months without realizing a tongue tie might be the underlying cause. Dr. Hardy’s specialized training allows her to identify even subtle restrictions that might be overlooked in standard pediatric exams.
What Are the Signs of Tongue Ties in Infants?
An untreated tongue tie can continue to cause problems as children grow. For toddlers and school-age children in Erie, restricted tongue mobility might lead to speech articulation problems, difficulty with certain sounds, challenges eating solid foods, and picky eating habits.
Long-term effects without treatment may include dental problems, orthodontic complications, sleep-disordered breathing, and even social challenges due to speech or eating difficulties. Dr. Hardy works with children of all ages at Flourish Tongue Tie Center, addressing these issues with age-appropriate treatment approaches and comprehensive care plans.
What Is the Difference Between a Tongue Tie and a Lip Tie?
While a tongue tie involves the lingual frenulum beneath the tongue, lip tie refers to a tight labial frenulum connecting the upper lip to the gum tissue. Many children experience both conditions simultaneously, often referred to as tethered oral tissues (TOTs).
Lip ties can contribute to feeding difficulties, dental decay along the front teeth, and gaps between front teeth. During your consultation at Flourish Tongue Tie Center in Erie, Dr. Hardy evaluates both tongue and lip mobility to provide a complete picture of your child’s oral function and determine the most appropriate treatment approach.
How Are Tongue Ties Treated at Flourish Tongue Tie Center?
The primary treatment for tongue ties is a frenectomy—a procedure that releases the restrictive tissue band. At Flourish Tongue Tie Center in Erie, Dr. Hardy performs this procedure using advanced CO2 cold laser technology, which offers significant advantages over traditional methods.
The laser frenectomy is completed in just 10-15 seconds without requiring sedation. This minimally invasive approach results in minimal bleeding and discomfort, allowing infants to breastfeed immediately after the procedure. For older children, the quick healing time means less disruption to normal activities while enjoying improved tongue mobility and function.
What Can I Expect During and After a Frenectomy?
During your visit to our Erie office, Dr. Hardy will perform a comprehensive evaluation to confirm the diagnosis. The actual procedure is remarkably fast, usually completed within seconds. For infants, parents can comfort their baby immediately, and breastfeeding is encouraged right after the procedure.
Following treatment, specific aftercare instructions will help optimize healing and functional results. These typically include gentle stretching exercises to prevent reattachment of the tissue. Recovery time is minimal, with most infants and children returning to normal activities immediately. Dr. Hardy provides detailed guidance on post-procedure care tailored to your child’s specific needs.
Will Insurance Cover Tongue Tie Treatment?
Many health insurance plans provide coverage for medically necessary frenectomy procedures, especially when documented feeding or speech difficulties exist. Our team at Flourish Tongue Tie Center works with families throughout Erie to navigate insurance questions and maximize available benefits.
During your consultation, we can help determine potential coverage based on your specific insurance plan. We ensure children receive the care they need without financial barriers whenever possible.
Schedule Your Tongue Tie Consultation Today
If you suspect your child may be affected by a tongue tie, prompt evaluation by a specialized professional can make all the difference. Dr. Hardy combines her pediatric dental expertise with personal understanding as a parent who has navigated similar challenges with her own children.
At Flourish Tongue Tie Center, we’re dedicated to helping families in Erie and surrounding communities overcome the challenges associated with tongue and lip ties. Contact our office today at 720-251-4444 or through our contact form to schedule your consultation with Dr. Namrata Hardy, Erie’s dedicated tongue tie specialist. Your journey to improved feeding, speech, and overall oral function is just one appointment away.
FAQ for Frenectomy
Is a Frenectomy painful for babies?
The frenulum, a thin membrane with few nerves, makes the procedure relatively painless. It requires no anesthesia and takes seconds to perform. Traditionally done with scissors, it can now be performed with a dental laser, minimizing blood loss and infection risk.
What is a good age to get a Frenectomy done?
A frenectomy can be done at any age, including infancy for tongue tie issues affecting breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.
How long does it take to recover from Frenectomy?
With laser frenectomy, infants can usually feed immediately with improved latching. Mild discomfort and minimal swelling may occur in the first 24 hours, and stretching exercises are advised for four weeks to prevent reattachment.
How do you stop bleeding after Frenectomy?
Laser frenectomies are often bloodless as the laser cauterizes the wound. Some spotting may occur, but generally, there is no significant bleeding.
Do Tongue Ties Affect speech?
While a tongue tie doesn't cause speech delays, it may impact pronunciation or articulation due to restricted tongue movement.
How long does a lip tie take to heal?
After a laser lip tie correction, infants may experience minor discomfort, with full healing taking a couple of weeks. Stretching exercises are crucial during this period to prevent reattachment.
How long does a tongue tie cut take to heal?
After a laser tongue tie correction, infants can usually nurse immediately, with complete healing in 2 to 4 weeks. Stretching exercises are necessary to avoid reattachment.
How common is it for tongue tie to reattach?
Proper aftercare, including recommended exercises, reduces the commonality of reattachment after a tongue tie correction.
Is a Frenectomy covered by insurance?
Infant frenectomies are often covered as medically necessary, addressing ankyloglossia, a condition impacting children and usually covered by dental and medical insurances.
Find Our Tongue Tie Center Near You
We are near to . Flourish Tongue Tie Center for frenectomy surgery is located at Village Visa Dr crossing near Mountain View Blvd in Erie, CO. Nearest cross streets are E Baseline Rd and CO-7, next to CitiBank ATM.
Driving Directions from to .
