Identifying and Treating Lip and Tongue Ties Early
A lip or tongue tie can affect far more than how a baby latches during feeding, it can shape speech development and oral health well into childhood. At Metropolitan Dental Arts, Dr. Abhinav Sinha evaluates and treats lip and tongue ties in infants and children, offering gentle, effective care tailored to each child’s specific needs.
Families throughout Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and the wider Brooklyn area turn to Dr. Sinha when feeding difficulties, speech concerns, or a visibly tight band of tissue raise questions about whether a tie might be involved. Early evaluation makes a real difference in preventing complications and supporting healthy development.
Schedule a Lip or Tongue Tie EvaluationWhat a Lip or Tongue Tie Actually Is
A tongue tie, medically known as ankyloglossia, happens when the band of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth is unusually short or tight. A lip tie is similar in nature, occurring when the upper lip is restricted by tight tissue connecting it to the gums. Both conditions can interfere with breastfeeding or bottle-feeding in infants, speech development as children grow, and even oral hygiene and comfort during everyday activities like eating. Because these ties can vary quite a bit in severity, not every case requires treatment, which is why a proper evaluation matters before deciding on next steps.
Signs Your Child May Have a Lip or Tongue Tie
Lip and tongue ties can show up differently depending on your child’s age, but a few signs tend to come up often.
- Difficulty latching during breastfeeding
- Poor weight gain or unusually prolonged feeding times
- Clicking sounds or pain while nursing
- Speech delays or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds
- A visible gap between the upper front teeth, in the case of a lip tie
- Difficulty sticking out the tongue or moving the lips freely
If you’re noticing any of these signs, an evaluation at Metropolitan Dental Arts can help determine whether a lip or tongue tie is the cause.
Diagnosing and Treating a Lip or Tongue Tie
Treatment for a lip or tongue tie is typically quick and minimally invasive, especially when caught early. Here’s what the process generally looks like.
01. Initial Evaluation
Your child’s mouth is carefully examined to confirm whether a lip or tongue tie is present and assess how it may be affecting feeding, speech, or oral development.
02. Discussing Treatment Options
If treatment is recommended, our team walks you through what’s involved, along with what to expect before and after the procedure.
03. Performing the Frenectomy
Using laser technology, the tight band of tissue is gently released in a quick, minimally invasive procedure designed for precision and comfort.
04. Immediate Aftercare Guidance
Before you leave, you’ll receive specific instructions on feeding, stretching, and oral exercises to support healing and prevent the tissue from reattaching.
05. Follow-up Support
Our team stays available to answer questions and check on your child’s progress as they heal and adjust to improved movement.
Why Laser Treatment Is Often Preferred
Using laser technology to perform a frenectomy allows for a level of precision that’s harder to achieve with traditional methods. The laser targets only the tissue that needs to be released, which tends to mean less discomfort during the procedure itself. It also helps minimize bleeding, since the laser seals tissue as it works, which can make for a smoother recovery.
For infants and young children in particular, a fast, precise procedure matters, since shorter treatment times generally mean less stress for both child and parent. Dr. Sinha uses this approach specifically to keep the experience as gentle as possible for every family he sees.
What Parents Can Expect After Treatment
After a frenectomy, most children recover quickly, but proper aftercare plays an important role in supporting healing and maintaining improved movement. Metropolitan Dental Arts provides parents with guidance on feeding, stretching exercises, and oral movements based on their child’s needs.
Following the recommended care instructions can help the treated area heal properly and reduce the chance of the tissue becoming restricted again. Our team remains available to answer questions and support families throughout the recovery process.
Support Your Child’s Feeding, Speech, and Comfort
If you suspect your child has a lip or tongue tie, an early evaluation can make a meaningful difference. Book online or call our dental office in Brooklyn to schedule a consultation with our pediatric dentists.
Request an AppointmentFrequently Asked Questions About Lip & Tongue Tie
Common signs include trouble latching during breastfeeding, clicking sounds while nursing, or poor weight gain despite frequent feeding. An evaluation at Metropolitan Dental Arts can confirm whether a tongue tie is present.
Using laser technology, the procedure is designed to be quick and minimally invasive, with most patients experiencing very little discomfort. Our team at our Brooklyn office will walk you through exactly what to expect beforehand.
Yes. An untreated tongue tie in particular can sometimes contribute to speech delays or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds as a child grows. Early evaluation helps determine whether treatment could prevent these issues.
Recovery is generally quick, though our team provides specific feeding, stretching, and oral exercise guidance afterward to support healing and prevent the tissue from reattaching. Most children resume normal feeding shortly after the procedure.
Not necessarily. Severity varies quite a bit from child to child, which is why an evaluation at Metropolitan Dental Arts is the best way to determine whether treatment is actually needed in your child’s case.
Treatment is available for infants as well as older children, and timing often depends on the symptoms your child is experiencing. Our team can advise on the right timeline during a consultation.
Yes, follow-up support is part of the process at our Williamsburg practice, so our team can check on healing and answer any questions as your child recovers.
Coverage varies by provider and often depends on whether the procedure is considered medically necessary. Our team can help you understand your specific benefits before moving forward with treatment.
