Has anyone had infant upper lip tie lasered?

[Saffy]

I've known since ,birth that DD had an upper lip tie but it didn't cause any BF problems.

I've found now she has teeth, that brushing her upper teeth is very stressful she fights me lifting her lip, and doing some research discovered the link between dental caries and ULT. Also I BF to sleep still which I know isn't a proven cause but I think the combination of things is going to be a problem.

I was speaking to an LC at my ABA meeting today who had a look and she agrees it is a grade 3or 4 lip tie and she said I should look at getting it lasered soon, there is a dentist in Melbourne who does them, and she can provide me with a referral. I felt relieved that someone agrees it's a problem as I didn't know who I was going to ask about, not sure if all dentists are up with this stuff?

Has anyone had any experience with this? What age did your child have it done? I'm thinking it will be about impossible to do it on DD at this age, but it don't want to wait and find she has cavities in 6months time.

[Jennifer13]

Not me, but my sister had her DD's lip tie done at around 10-11 mths. I think she needed to get it done twice, because the first time did not 'fix' the problem. She was having what seemed like minimal bfing issues, but they were caused by both tongue and lip tie doing mild damage, resulting in recurrent thrush. The dentist who did it (specialist paedeatric dentist) mentioned that her DD would likely have had speech issues if she hadn't had the lip tie done while she was young.

The procedure didn't cause her pain from what my sister said, although she might have had a little bit of mouth sensitivity for a few days afterwards. The thing she hated the most was having to be held down and still for the procedure itself.

My sister was sent to the dentist by a great ABA-referred GP who specialises in lactation issues in Brisbane, so no help to Melbourne unfortunately.

HTH! I can ask in more detail in case I'm remembering incorrectly.

[Saffy]

Yes that's great thanks!

I'm anticipating the same issue, that the holding down will be the worst bit. Hard when they are that old.

I phoned the clinic and spoke to a receptionist who was really informative, and said we can just have a consult without making a decision, or we can do it while we are there, so I have booked in , it's still 6weeks away. I feel better that we a going to have it done.

Meanwhile, DH just looked in the mirror at work and discovered he has one too lol

[Mildez]

I have been working as a CFHN for 15months now and have only seen one child with it. Very severe mind you. Her parents were not proactive in having any follow up or treatment and she does have quiet severe dental caries to her top teeth. She has multiple oral health risk factors but I have no doubt that the upper lip tie has been a significant risk factor.

[luna moth]

My DD1 just did her own a couple of months back by jumping violently off the bed...

[HotI]

i only recently noticed that my 4 year old has one. not sure how it was missed in the 18 months of speech therapy.

[Taurean]

DD2 has one but we took her to a paediatric dentist about a year or so ago and they told us not to do anything about hers and that it should correct itself over time. She's 2.5 yrs now and has proved a lot and doesn't seem to be causing her any issues. Brushing her teeth is a lot easier now too.

DD2 also had a tongue tie but that was snipped at around 7 weeks.

[Saffy]

Thanks everyone.
I'm torn between wanting to get on top of any future potential problems, and wondering if it will just sort itself out without intervention. Particularly because her breastfeeding is fine.

For what it's worth, my Dh has major teeth issues and had some removed from overcrowding, also very crooked upper teeth, I don't want her to suffer this fate!!