Tongue & Lip Ties in Orland Park, South Loop,
Oak lawn, & midway

Does your baby have a hard time breastfeeding because she can’t latch on correctly? Do you notice that your baby’s tongue seems restricted in movement? Your baby may have been born with tongue-tie, a physical condition that can be easily remedied by a simple procedure in one of our offices.

Labial and Lingual Frenectomies

TOTs (Tethered Oral Tissues) or tongue-tie, also known as ankyloglossia, refers to lingual restriction due to ties of the tongue, lip, and even buccal tissues. When a frenulum (a small fold of tissue that supports the motion of that which it is connected to, such as the tongue, lip, and gum) is too thick, tight, or short, movement is restricted, and a frenectomy may be necessary.

The labial frenulum is the membrane that connects the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth and the lingual frenulum is that which connects the center of the upper or lower lips to the corresponding gums. A frenectomy is a procedure used to correct this congenital condition known as tongue-tie.

How can I tell if my baby is tongue-tied?

Since tongue-tie means restricted tongue movement, evaluating your baby’s eating habits is a place to begin. How well your baby can breastfeed may indicate the state of their tongue and surrounding membranes. The following are signs your baby may have tongue-tie, but none of them alone are conclusive. An evaluation by one of our doctors would be the best way to determine whether or not your baby has a tongue-tie.

• Pain during breastfeeding due to poor attachment
• Damaged nipples
• Baby’s inability to maintain suction while breastfeeding
• Clicking noises during feeding that aren’t simply results of a noisy eater
• Low weight gain over time
• Recurring Mastitis

Questions to Consider Regarding to Your Baby’s Tongue

• Does your baby have difficulty moving her tongue from one side to the other?
• Can your baby touch the upper gums or roof of her mouth with her tongue?
• Can your baby stick her tongue out past her gums?
• Does your baby’s tongue have a V or heart shape at the tip when she sticks it out?

What is tongue-tie surgery?

Our frenectomy procedure is a laser treatment and takes only 15 minutes. The advantages of doing a frenectomy with a laser in one of our Chicago area offices rather than a scalpel include:

• less bleeding.
• reduced need for stitches.
• minimal post-operative discomfort.
• faster recovery.

What causes tongue-tie?

Tongue-tie is a condition present at birth.

Is tongue-tie surgery painful?

Not at all. Your child will be adequately sedated with a general anesthetic during the procedure, so he or she will not feel a thing.

Can tongue-tie go away on its own?

No. The only way to correct tongue-tie is by surgery.

Can a baby with tongue-tie stick his tongue out?

No. As stated above, babies with tongue-tie cannot stick their tongues out past their gums.

We look forward to working with you and your child if he or she wrestles with the negative effects of tongue-tie. The frenectomy procedure is simple, and together with a team of medical specialists, our doctors treat this condition comprehensively, safely, and comfortably.