For adults frenuloplasty is typically done under local anesthesia, which numbs the area and minimizes pain during the procedure. After the procedure, there may be some discomfort or soreness, which is managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.  Nitrous Oxide, commonly known as "laughing gas" is administered to children 2 years and older  in combination with a topical numbing agent, and local anesthetic.  Babies need nothing more than a topical numbing agent.

A dentist may be able to help you sleep better by treating any issues in the mouth that may be contributing to sleep disturbances.  Dentists can create custom oral appliances and make the mouth bigger through palate expansion.

An official diagnosis can only be given by a physician or dentist, though many other professions may suspect an issue.  Some symptoms you can look for if you suspect a tie are:
    - an inability to nurse or take a bottle properly
    - clicking noises while feeding
    - gumming or chewing the nipple while feeding
    - frustration at the breast or bottle
    - poor weight gain
    - breastfeeding is painful for mom

Inside your mouth is connective tissue between oral structures that you might have heard referred to as "frenulum" or "frenum". It's that stretchy piece of tissue that connects your lip to your gums and your tongue to the floor of your mouth.  A tongue-tie or lip-tie is the term used  when that tissue limits the tongue or lip's range of motion.  For an infant, this can create challenges in nursing or taking a bottle and can affect oral development. For a child, this can create obstacles in speech, eating, and behavior, just to name a few.  For an adult, it can be a contributing cause of neck pain and tension, headaches and migraines,low back pain and teeth grinding. In all ages it can contribute to sleep disturbances.  Treatment is usually a procedure called a frenectomy or frenuloplasty to remove the restrictive tissue.

Does the person in question wake up feeling refreshed? Do they appear grumpy?  Are there bags under the eyes? Does the child have bed head in the morning, where it is obvious that the child has tossed and turned all night? Does the child have problems with nighttime urination? As an adult, are you waking up frequently to go to the bathroom? Are you always sleeping on your belly? Can you fall asleep anywhere, anyplace, anytime? These are things we discuss at Breathe Cincinnati.

90% of the craniofacial development of the child is complete by the age of 9. If the child has a high palate and narrow arch the chances are that child does not have proper resting tongue position.  If this is the case, the mouth will already be on a path that may not be ideal.  In our opinion, early intervention is paramount.  Early intervention could drastically impact ones’ health trajectory throughout life.

Obviously soon is better than later so in order to get them on a path to optimal rest.

Typically child well visits are focused on confirming that your child is meeting age-appropriate milestones and screening for concerns of significant distress.  If the parent does not bring up any concerns and a child is within expected growth parameters airway issues may easily slip by unnoticed. Pediatricians are not trained to evaluate the mouth-this has always been under the purview of a dentist.

No, unless you would like to visit Dr. Koo at her other office where she helps restore mouths. Until recently, most dentists have been trained solely on the gums and teeth - not the mouth as part of the airway.  Understanding that the size of the mouth plays an important role in the health and wellbeing of the whole person is only now beginning to be understood. When visiting Dr. Koo at Breathe Cincinnati, her primary focus will be on evaluating the impact of your mouth on your body and then providing access to a team of professionals dedicated to optimizing your health.

The importance of the tongue has slipped by unless the dentist has learned about and takes the time to understand the whole child, ask questions that go beyond the superficial appearance of health and cavity free teeth; the impact of the mouth that is too small for child's tongue will continue to go by unnoticed and unobserved. It is part of Breathe Cincinnati's mission to help empower parents advocate for their children.