Tongue Tie surgery....

[fuzzybug]

A couple of weeks ago we foundout that our 3 y/o is tongue tied. We had never even considered it because we had serious latch-on issues when she was a newborn, but I just go used to them. Anyways, our pediatrician pointed it out. She referred us to an oral surgeon...long story. Anyways, I am wandering if anyone has any experience with this. In order to perform the frenectomy, they will need to completely sedate Kileigh. She has never before had any medical procedures done. She is the picture of good health. The doctor recommened waiting until she was older, either when she started or her peers started noticing it (teasing), if her speech became worse (she has problems saying w's, r's and l's), or when/if she had orthodontic work done. My husband and I feel we should get it done now before any serious speech issues arise and and we have to deal with speech therapy (which we may still need to) and before she or her peers recognize she is different. Tongue tie can also give the child halotosis since this tongue is helping the salivating process as much as it should, and the child has the risk of developing more than the usual cavaties because the tongue cannot push the food through like it's supposed to. So what are your opinions? Does anyone have experience with general anesteshia (spelling???) on a 3 y/o. Her oral surgeon is concerned about possible allergies, albeit we haven't found any food or any other allergies thus far, and just her age. Which I am concerned about as well. I guess IMO, the results of what could happen if we don't do it now, to me outweigh the risks of the surgery by quite a bit. Just need to get an uninterested third party opinion! Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!1

[heartmama]

I can give you two perspectives.

The late Jeannine Parvati Baker refused to have the surgery done to her son. Apparently he was quite tongue tied. At the time I spoke with her about this he was an older teen. Her view was spiritual~that he was meant to listen in life and had grown up to be an amazing friend and listener in the eyes of others.

In terms of anethsesia, my son has had several heart surgeries. There is always a risk. It is small. I'm assuming there are just giving your daughter a sedative, not a general.

As far as when is best, well, if her doctor thinks you should wait, I would take that into consideration. There may be exercises you can do to correct the problem instead, and waiting would give you time to research alternatives.

It sounds like you've overcome one of the biggest challenges with tongue tie~nursing. If her speech affection is slight, I can see why the doctor said to wait. I probably would wait. When she is older she could better understand the procedure. In my experience, 3 was a very difficult age to endure a medical procedure.

However if you decide to go for it now, I also can see ways to make that work. Good luck!

[christiab]

Tongue-tie affects more than speech. It increased the risk of decay (your tongue cleans the corners of your mouth). It alters the shape of the jaw and position of the teeth. I went to a 2 hour seminar on tongue-tie and latching for BF and the speaker talked about how tongue-tied people have more cavities and braces.

I am firmly in the-earlier-the-better camp. The tongue gets increasingly vascularized as kids age. In an infant, it is done w/o anesthesia with scissors. No bleeding, no aftercare required. I watched video of several babies and it did not look painful.

In a toddler, it may require stitches. It is also usually done with GA. Older kids will also need more speech therapy to correct the speech patterns than a toddler who has more tongue flexibility earlier on.

GA sucks and is scary, but DS needed dental work at 18 mos and I knew he wouldn't hold still. I was more traumatized than he was!

Good luck and hugs!!!

[Shirada]

I just noticed this thread whilst researching something else, so I may be a little too late. My dd had her frenulum taken care of with laser. It was painless, and quick, (minutes) and healed very quickly, with no sedation. I read a great deal on the subject and decided it was the best way to go. I highly recommed it.