Minnesota's Exceptional Tongue & Lip Tie Center Rauk Family Dentistry Releasing Health
Frenectomy services available for all ages. Please call 320-763-5556 or Email. For infants and children under the age of one: A baby in the womb has strong cords of tissue positioned in the center of the mouth that guide and keep the lips and tongue in harmony with the growing bones of the mouth and jaws during development. The cords are called frenum. Everyone has frenums. If you look in a mirror and pull up on your upper lip or down on your lower lip you will see a labial (lip) frenum. If you raise your tongue and look underneath, you can see your lingual (tongue) frenum. The frenums are supposed to recede and thin as we grow and develop. However, in some people, the frenum(s) are especially tight or fail to recede or thin appropriately and restrict tongue and/or lip mobility which causes problems for that person. The restrictions are then referred to as a tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) or lip-tie. They are also referred to as TOTS (Tethered Oral TissueS) A comprehensive exam by a clinician with expertise in evaluation of frenum(s) is necessary to determine the extent of the restriction and its impact on function for an individual person. Only then, can an appropriate diagnosis and recommendation for treatment be made. Some babies can have ties and do not have noticeable symptoms. To know if the ties are a problem, we ask two major questions: “Is the baby getting enough to eat?” and “Is nursing/feeding the baby comfortable for the mother?”
For children and adults over the age of one. Diagnosis: Schedule a thorough oral examination with Dr. Kim Rauk to assess if reduction of a frenum(s) in my child’s or adults mouth may help to restore anatomy, function, and/or possibly prevent commonly associated future problems. Recommended Treatment: In order to treat this condition, Dr. Kim Rauk may recommended that a frenectomy be performed at the selected site(s). A soft tissue laser will be utilized. This very laser is FDA approved for this soft tissue surgery and is an excellent tool to optimize treatment and recovery. Orofacial Myology Assessment and Therapy: Dr. Kim Rauk may recommended Orofacial Myology Therapy (OMT) be completed prior to receiving a frenectomy. OMT addresses myofunctional disorders which may develop from tight or restricted lingual or labial frenum. Goals for treatment include: · Lips together all the time, except when speaking, even at rest and eating. · Correct tongue position. Tongue on the spot at rest to develop the upper jaw. · Breathe through the nose, This helps develop the upper and lower jaws and the correct bite. · No lip or mentalis activity when swallowing, this allows the lower jaw and front teeth to develop correctly. Avoid mouth breathing at all times. · By making these good habits permanent, your child can achieve a permanent change in facial development, tooth and jaw alignment. · Improving body posture, facial and dental development in the growing child. · Adults
Frenectomy services available for all ages. Please call 320-763-5556 or Email.