- Lip and Tongue-Tie Treatment
- Hallam
- East York
Experience Dental Excellence with Our Lip & Tongue-Tie Treatment in East York
At The Center for Dental Excellence, we provide expert care for those facing the challenges of lip and tongue-tie. Our team, led by the skilled Dr. Katherman, offers a perfect balance of professional expertise and compassionate support. We’re committed to clarifying and treating lip and tongue-tie issues with specialized care in a welcoming environment.
Start your journey towards relief with us – contact us today at to take the first step.
Understanding Lip and Tongue Ties
Ankyloglossia
A tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a condition that is present at birth. It limits the tongue’s movement which is caused by a tight band of tissue (called the frenum) that attaches the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. A lip-tie is a condition also present at birth that limits the lip’s mobility, particularly the ability to flare out. It attaches near the teeth or wraps around the other side of the ridge, depending on severity.
Here at CDEPA-East York, we release these ties using a minimally invasive laser that is designed to shorten procedure time and healing time. We are happy to share that one of our dental hygienists is also a trained myofunctional therapist and, if needed, she helps maximize function by teaching lip- and tongue-tie patients the correct resting tongue position and how to chew, swallow and breathe correctly following the release of a tongue- and lip-tie.
If you, your baby or child are experiencing difficulties due to a tongue- and/or lip-tie, we encourage you to learn more about the treatments and services we offer at our East York practice.
Recognizing Common Signs and Symptoms of Tongue- and/or Lip-Ties
Awareness is the first step toward intervention. Recognizing the signs early can pave the way for timely and effective treatment.
For Babies:
- Poor latch/ the lips and mouth slide off of the breast
- Clicking sound while nursing/poor suction
- Gassiness
- Reflux/spits up a lot
- Gumming or chewing on nipples
- Gags on milk or pops off breast frequently to gasp for air
- Gags on milk or pops off breast frequently to gasp for air
- Poor weight gain
- Frequent feedings / falls asleep during feedings, then hungry again soon after
- Milk dribbling out of the corners of the mouth
- Thrush
A Mom Who Is Nursing A Tongue- and/or Lip-Tie Baby:
- Discomfort while nursing
- Breast doesn’t feel emptied
- Creased, flat, blanched nipples after feedings
- Cracked, blistered, bleeding nipples
- Low milk supply/compromised milk supply
- Plugged ducts/ mastitis
- Thrush
- Frustration, disappointment, and discouragement with breast-feeding
For Older Children and Adults:
- Digestive issues
- Neck/back pain/tension
- Space between front teeth
- Unable to lick an ice cream cone with ease
- Trouble kissing
- Trouble licking lips
- Dental caries and poor oral health
- Substitution of letters and sounds
The Potential Complications of Untreated Ties
If left untreated, a tongue- or lip-tie may lead to a number of complications, including:
- Gum problem
- Eating/swallowing difficulty
- Digestion issues
- Slow or picky eater
- Difficulty licking
- Smiling unnaturally
- Spaces between teeth
- Dental caries (cavities) and poor oral health
- Breathing disorders
- Sleep apnea
- Speech substitution/difficulties
- Neck and back pain/tension
- Trouble breast-feeding as an infant
- Oral growth and development abnormalities
The Potential Complications of Untreated Ties
- Oral Health Challenges: Restricted tongue movement can hinder effective mouth cleaning and increase bacterial buildup.
- Speech and Feeding Problems: A tied tongue can impact the pronunciation of specific sounds and letters, making eating more challenging.
- Dental Issues: Over time, a tie can contribute to spacing issues between teeth or even lead to significant decay if oral hygiene is compromised.
- Emotional and Social Implications: Beyond the physical realm, untreated ties can affect your confidence, social interactions, and emotional well-being, especially if speech is affected.
Comprehensive Treatment Procedures at The Center for Dental Excellence
Diagnosing Lip- and Tongue-Ties
While some lip- and tongue-ties are obvious, others are not and require a thorough physical examination by a trained professional. It is imperative that you consult with a doctor that is trained in diagnosing lip- and tongue-ties.
During the examination, the doctor will examine the lip and tongue, paying particular attention to whether the movement is restricted. The doctor will also ask questions about eating, speech and dental issues possibly caused by a tongue- or lip-tie. Once diagnosed, lip- and tongue-ties can be easily released.
The Frenectomy Procedure
Lip- or tongue-tie can be released in a quick and easy in-office procedure called a frenectomy. While we perform a laser frenectomy on patients of all ages, our team is one of the few in the area that is experienced in releasing tongue- and lip-ties in infants.
We provide a comfortable infant treatment area where we use state-of-the-art equipment to provide thorough and safe treatment for your baby.
If you aren’t familiar with a frenectomy, here is a brief overview of the procedure that we perform in our dental office.
We use a safe and effective topical anesthetic gel on infants and in toddlers and children with the aid of local anesthetic. We use a small dental laser that looks like a pen to release the tight frenum, which is done in a matter of minutes. The procedure is quick and discomfort is minimal. Bleeding is minimal, if it occurs at all.
Complications of a frenectomy are rare, but could include bleeding, infection, or damage to the tongue or salivary glands. It is also possible to have scarring or for the frenulum to reattach to the base of the tongue or lip if stretches aren’t completed regularly for the first few weeks following the procedure. We stress the importance of these stretches and demonstrate how to do them to help prevent reattachment.
For infants, we work closely with IBCLC lactation to support mom and baby through the breastfeeding process.
Myotherapy Sessions
If a tongue tie and/or lip tie are caught in infancy, then myotherapy is not recommended. For children and adults myotherapy is recommended after tongue tie releases and occasionally after lip tie releases. Many children and adult patients can benefit from undergoing myofunctional therapy to learn the correct resting tongue position, as well as how to chew, swallow and breathe correctly.
Our clinically trained myotherapist at the Center for Dental Excellence, Billie Shue, has years of experience treating patients of all ages. The number of sessions and details of therapy vary patient to patient. She will develop a personalized aftercare treatment plan based on the individual patient’s specific needs and goals.
What to Expect After Frenectomy
Children and adult patients are free to resume normal activities after the frenectomy procedure. For infant patients, we offer a relaxing suite for baby and mom to use to bond and breastfeed after the procedure is completed. There is a baby-changing station located in the nursing suite restroom.
Side effects are minimal after laser frenectomy. During this time, discomfort and soreness are normal but minimal. Our team will provide you with a detailed list of instructions, including oral motor exercises and stretches to follow after treatment. The frequent stretches help determine the success of the procedure.
The Frenectomy Procedure
Myotherapy Sessions
If a tongue tie and/or lip tie are caught in infancy, then myotherapy is not recommended. For children and adults myotherapy is recommended after tongue tie releases and occasionally after lip tie releases. Many children and adult patients can benefit from undergoing myofunctional therapy to learn the correct resting tongue position, as well as how to chew, swallow and breathe correctly.
Our clinically trained myotherapist at the Center for Dental Excellence, Billie Shue, has years of experience treating patients of all ages. The number of sessions and details of therapy vary patient to patient. She will develop a personalized aftercare treatment plan based on the individual patient’s specific needs and goals.
What to Expect After Frenectomy
Children and adult patients are free to resume normal activities after the frenectomy procedure. For infant patients, we offer a relaxing suite for baby and mom to use to bond and breastfeed after the procedure is completed. There is a baby-changing station located in the nursing suite restroom.
Side effects are minimal after laser frenectomy. During this time, discomfort and soreness are normal but minimal. Our team will provide you with a detailed list of instructions, including oral motor exercises and stretches to follow after treatment. The frequent stretches help determine the success of the procedure.
Myotherapy Sessions
Pictured are the myofunctional therapy supplies and tools used during weekly myotherapy sessions and at home.
If a tongue tie and/or lip tie are caught in infancy, then myotherapy is not recommended. For children and adults myotherapy is recommended after tongue tie releases and occasionally after lip tie releases. Many children and adult patients can benefit from undergoing myofunctional therapy to learn the correct resting tongue position, as well as how to chew, swallow and breathe correctly.
Our clinically trained myotherapist at the Center for Dental Excellence, Billie Shue, has years of experience treating patients of all ages. The number of sessions and details of therapy vary patient to patient. She will develop a personalized aftercare treatment plan based on the individual patient’s specific needs and goals.
What to Expect After Frenectomy
Children and adult patients are free to resume normal activities after the frenectomy procedure. For infant patients, we offer a relaxing suite for baby and mom to use to bond and breastfeed after the procedure is completed. There is a baby-changing station located in the nursing suite restroom.
Side effects are minimal after laser frenectomy. During this time, discomfort and soreness are normal but minimal. Our team will provide you with a detailed list of instructions, including oral motor exercises and stretches to follow after treatment. The frequent stretches help determine the success of the procedure.
Testimonials
Meet Our Team
Experience matters when it comes to treating and releasing tongue- and lip-ties. At the Center for Dental Excellence, our team is comprised of professionals who are not only trained and experienced but also compassionate about the difficulties infants, mothers, children and adults experience due to lip- and tongue-ties. We work diligently to ensure the patient’s needs are fully met.
*From left to right: Shirley, office manager; Pam, lactation consultant and dental assistant; Dr. Kaitlyn Katherman; and Billie Shue, RDH, Myotherapist.
Hello! I am not just a dentist. I’m also a proud mom of a baby who was tongue-tied and lip-tied. I graduated from LECOM-SDM (Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine– School of Dental Medicine) and work as a general dentist in York, PA.
After giving birth to my daughter and struggling with breastfeeding, I recognized that my daughter had ties, which were inhibiting her from feeding effectively and thus affecting our nursing experience. Intrigued by the dramatic effects that we experienced after the tongue and lip-tie revisions, I expanded my knowledge in tongue and lip-ties. I’ve communicated with many world-recognized revisionists, lactation consultants, speech therapists, body workers and a variety of other therapists and I’ve traveled to take advanced training with highly respected laser frenectomy revisionists to perform tongue-tie and lip-tie revisions on infants, children and adults.
Today, my toddler, Kelsie, is a happy and healthy girl full of giggles and energy. Without her tongue and lip-ties, I never would have pursued additional training in tongue and lip-ties. It is my passion to help infants, children and adults by releasing their restricted tongues and lips to improve their mobility, function and quality of life.
About Billie Shue, RDH
Hi! While practicing dental hygiene for 25 years, I pursued an interest in myofunctional therapy.
I have been trained through the IAOM and have taken advanced courses through the Coulson Institute. My career as a hygienist allows a perfect opportunity to identify tongue and lip ties.
Myofunctional therapy (myotherapy) teaches patients the correct resting tongue position, and how to chew, swallow and breathe correctly. We offer programs to help eliminate thumb and finger habits as well that can affect our total body health.
Therapy is done in our office in a very fun, rewarding way. Patients are seen once a week for an average of 3-4 months. Through repetitious exercises, good and appropriate habits are obtained.
I look forward to working with you!
Don’t Let Ties Hold You Back: Discover Our Expert Care Today
The Center for Dental Excellence becomes your trusted partner for lip and tongue-tie treatment in East York, PA. Our compassionate approach, combined with cutting-edge techniques, ensures these lip and tongue ties no longer hinder your life.