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Under and around the tongue, your child has small tissues called frenum. These tiny strips of tissue are sometimes so short that a child can't stick his tongue out or touch it to the roof of his mouth. In extreme cases, this can lead to infant feeding problems and speech problems in an older child. The surgery to correct the problem is called frenectomy.
The medical name for tongue tie is ankyloglossia. In many cases, an infant who is tongue tied needs no medical treatment, but, in some cases, surgery may be necessary.
In very young babies, a paediatric dentist or maxillofacial surgeon simply holds the child's head and snips the frenum with a pair of surgical scissors. No anaesthesia is used and the majority of children experience little obvious lasting discomfort. Babies who receive this treatment can generally feed normally right away and tongue movement becomes normal in a few months.
Treatment for older children may involve cutting (called dividing) the frenum surgically, under general anaesthesia. Your child may not be able to eat or drink for several hours before the surgery. During surgery, his blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing will be monitored. The procedure itself is still relatively simple. After surgery, your child's mouth will likely be very sore. Offer cool drinks and paracetamol as directed by his doctor.
Although babies generally recover completely from frenectomy without further treatment, older children may need speech therapy to direct their newfound movement of their tongue.
Depending on the severity of the condition, some doctors prefer to wait and see what happens when a baby is born tongue tied. Whether your child receives surgical treatment as an infant or when he is older, you will need to monitor the area for signs of infection after the procedure. If your child shows signs of fever, excessive swelling or bleeding, or continued pain, call your doctor for advice.
Related common surgeries in children:
- Hip dysplasia
- Tear duct obstruction
- Umbilical hernia repair
- Undescended testicle repair
Written by Rebecca Stigall for Kidspot, Australia's parenting resource for family health . Sources include Better Health Channel, NSW Health, and Health Insite.
Last revised: Sunday, 20 June 2010
This article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.
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