Lip and Tongue Tie Procedures in Sioux Falls, SD

Kusek Family & Implant Dentistry is proud to serve Sioux Falls as a family dentist, offering comprehensive services for patients of all ages. 

young child visiting Kusek Family & Implant Dentistry for a checkupGeneral and family dentists provide routine exams, cleanings, mineral treatments, and x-rays, as well as diagnose oral health conditions such as tooth decay and gum disease to help patients achieve their optimal oral health. Our dentists also specialize in lip and tongue-tie procedures, to help little ones' smiles stay healthy from the start!

Recognizing the Symptoms of a Lip and Tongue Tie   

Tongue and lip ties are the result of thick or malformed oral tissues. Tongue ties occur when the lingual frenulum (the membrane connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth) is thick, short, or malformed. The tongue's tip becomes attached to the floor of the mouth, restricting the regular movement and function of the tongue. Lip ties happen when the frenulum connecting the upper or lower lip to the gums is thick, short, or improperly formed, thus affecting the lip's mobility.

One of the most common and easily recognizable indications of the presence of lip and tongue tie in a child is the difficulty in breastfeeding. Common symptoms include:

  • difficulty to latch on to the mother's breast
  • struggle breathing during feeding
  • the child makes a clicking sound during nursing
  • the child often falls asleep often while nursing
  • the child becomes tired after nursing
  • slow or lack of weight gain
  • colic or gastric problems

And for the breastfeeding mother, this condition may manifest as the following symptoms:

  • pain on the breast during or after breastfeeding
  • fatigue from breastfeeding
  • blocked milk ducts or mastitis

How Do Lip and Tongue Tie Affect The Baby's Nourishment?

A lip or tongue tie restricts the movement of a baby's lip or tongue, and this can impact their ability to breastfeed or eat. A baby with a lip or tongue tie will find it difficult to latch or swallow properly as their tongue cannot reach out far enough to latch onto the mother's breast. If the baby is unable to latch properly, the baby may not get enough milk, and this can lead to excessive weight loss. If they are unable to eat properly, the baby can suffer malnutrition.

When a tongue or lip tie can cause issues for breastfeeding, treating the tongue and lip tie at the earliest is recommended. 

TOTS Treatment for Lip & Tongue Ties

young patient laughing in the dental chair while visiting Kusek Family & Implant DentistryTOTs treatment refers to Tethered Oral Tissues, and refers to restriction of the tongue due to excess tissue. Left untreated, tethered tissue or a "tongue tie" can affect a young patient's ability to eat, speak, swallow, feed, and more. The development of an infant's facial features, airways, dental structures and speech development can be severely impacted.

At Kusek Family & Implant Dentistry, we offer frenectomies for tongue tie treatment, using the latest technologies to quickly, painlessly release tethered tissue. Using our advanced Solea laser technology, our skilled dentists can perform fast, effective, painless frenectomies, to restore the healthy smiles and proper overall development.

At Kusek Family & Implant Dentistry, Dr. Kusek has performed lip and tongue-tie procedures on over 1,000 infants and young children. A lip tie can be corrected with either a frenectomy or a simple snip. Both are minor procedures that can be performed in just a few minutes by your dentist. A snip is a simple snip of the tissue that connects the upper lip to the gum, which makes it easier to swallow and speak.

Healthy Smiles for All Ages in Sioux Falls 

At Kusek Family & Implant Dentistry, we offer a full range of services, including lip and tongue tie surgeries to protect young patients' best health. Call today to learn more about scheduling your next visit or surgical consultation.

Contact Us

(605) 371-3443

    New Patient?









    Contact Us

    Office Hours

    Monday:
    8:00AM - 5:00PM
    Tuesday:
    8:00AM - 5:00PM
    Wednesday:
    8:00AM - 5:00PM
    Thursday:
    8:00AM - 5:00PM
    Friday:
    8:00AM - 12:00PM

    Contact Us