Posterior and lip tie - manually or laser?

[ButteryJam]

Hi

I just met up with a private lactation consultant who also cuts tongue ties, and she said my LO has a posterior tongue tie at 25% and also a lip tie.

This may explain all the problems I've had with breastfeeding (repeated mastitis and thrush).

Is it better to get it cut with laser? Also there's no one in our area who does the lip tie. Do you know anyone who does in England?

John Roberts at Cote Royd Dental Practice in Huddersfield and Malcolm Levinkind in North London both use laser and will do lip ties if appropriate.

The experts seem to prefer laser over scissors. This is because there is less bleeding because it cauterises, the procedure can be done millimetre by millimetre and tongue function can be assessed as they go. These are the reasons I can remember, but I think there are more.

DS1's wasn't discovered until he was 6yo, but if I knew back then what I knew now, I would not hesitate to have his ties lasered.

Mawbroon, do you have any idea as to how much it costs roughly the lip and tongue tie via laser?

DS1's was done last year and if I remember correctly, it was around £350 which included a session with the cranial osteopath. That was at Cote Royd, and I think the prices are roughly similar with Malcolm Levinkind.

Give them a call and ask for the current price.

Mawbroon, thanks! How soon were you seen and was it all done in one day? I might consider a trip up to Huddersfield

We were due to be more or less passing by Huddersfield on a trip down south so made an appointment just for a consultation in July last year.

When we decided that we were going to go ahead with the revision, we made the appointment a couple of weeks ahead, (but bear in mind there was no urgency for us) and chose the most convenient week. The actual procedure only takes about 5 mins!! It was a long drive (400miles round trip) but worth it to get the ties done properly. John also referred us to a like minded dentist here in Edinburgh where ds1 is going for his orthodontic treatment.

I'm not sure if this is still how it works, but the tongue tie clinic was on a Thursday afternoon/evening.

Mawbroon, thanks! How long did the osteopathy session take?

Not long, maybe 20 mins or so. DS1 loved it, he said it felt really nice. She also held his head when he was being lasered and he said she was rubbing it a bit then too.

She also gave him a once over and highlighted a couple of things that needed worked on.

Mawbroon, thanks!

Did your LO cry when the procedure was being done? We are booked in, and I just want to prepare myself mentally.

Also, to others, is it worthwhile seeing the lactation consultant and the osteopath at the same time? (We are travelling quite a distance to get there)

No, he didn't cry. He had been injected with local anaesthetic. But remember, he was 6yo at the time, so it's a whole different ball game. I think that babies get a dab of topical anaesthetic. Less than an hour later, ds1 was eating his tea with no discomfort. It was only stretches that gave him any pain, but they are essential to avoid reattachment, especially with posterior and lip ties.

We were allowed to stay in the room, but if I remember correctly, that the parents of babies have to wait in the other room. It really only is a few minutes though.

Have I mentioned the Tongue Tie Babies Support Group on Facebook? You will find people on there who have seen John with their babies and would be able to give you more info than I can.

Mawbroon- could you please pm me with the details of the dentist in Edinburgh? Or do you know of a good one in Glasgow, where we're based. My son had his tie snipped 3 times but he's still tied. Would maybe consider the laser cut when he's old enough to do the exercises. I want to find a dentist that understands how the tie has affected his mouth (causing mouth breathing, snoring, malocclusion etc) and doesn't just treat me like some neurotic!

Hi BexBex - just wondered if you found a good orthodontist in Glasgow or Edinburgh? Going through the same issues. My son is six but just found out he has a tongue and lip tie and it has caused mouth breathing, snoring, elongation of the face, tongue thrusting etc all the issues to do with low tongue posture and like you everyone thinks I'm being overly precious or neurotic. I'm in Glasgow but anyone within a few hours would be fine. I know about Orthotropics in London but would be a big struggle to get there as often as you need for treatment. Hows your wee one doing now? Did you get the lip tie sorted? Who did you go to? Any advice would be fab as finding it a struggle to get good info. Cheers!