CO2 Laser Treatment
At our practice, we understand the impact that tongue-ties and lip-ties can have on your child's health and well-being. That's why we offer a range of treatments, including CO2 laser treatment, to address these conditions and improve your child's quality of life. Read on to learn more, or schedule your child’s appointment with our office today.
What Are Tongue-Ties and Lip-Ties?
A physical condition that limits the use of the tongue is called a tongue-tie. This restriction often causes various issues and affects around 20% of the population. A lip-tie, on the other hand, is a condition where the upper lip is restricted and cannot move normally. It can cause difficulty with nursing, make it harder to brush the top teeth and can also lead to a gap in the teeth.
The Symptoms of Tongue-Ties and Lip-Ties in Infants
- Difficulty breastfeeding or bottle-feeding
- Poor weight gain
- Speech difficulties
- Dental problems, such as tooth decay and misalignment
- Inability to stick out the tongue
- Inability to move the tongue from side to side
- Inability to touch the roof of the mouth with the tongue
- Pain and discomfort
The Symptoms of Tongue-Ties and Lip-Ties in Toddlers & Older Children
- Speech: A tongue restriction affects speech differently in each child. Some children may speak well but with extra effort, while others may have a speech delay or difficulty producing certain sounds like L, R, T, D, N, TH, SH, and Z.
- Feeding: Children that are tongue-tied often have trouble nursing or taking a bottle and may also have difficulty transitioning to solid foods, with choking, gagging, or trouble swallowing certain textures.
- Sleep: A tongue-tie can cause teeth grinding, snoring, or sleep-disordered breathing problems, leading to frequent waking, restlessness, bed-wetting, and difficulty focusing. Releasing a tongue-tie can help your child sleep more soundly, as the tongue will be able to rest on the palate, as it was designed to do.
We are here to support you and your child every step of the way. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help your child.
Other CO2 Laser Treatments
Besides labial and lingual frenectomies (tongue-tie or lip-tie procedures), the CO2 laser can be used in gingivectomies (removing excess gum tissue) and operculectomies (exposing a wisdom tooth). These procedures require the removal of soft tissue from the mouth, and CO2 lasers are gentle, precise, and virtually pain-free. Unlike traditional methods, which can be scary for kids and cause discomfort and bleeding, CO2 lasers use a beam of light to gently remove the tissue without causing harm. The laser even helps seal the wound, which promotes faster healing and reduces discomfort. Regardless of what brings your child to our office, our experienced pediatric dentists at Sweetpea Smiles use CO2 lasers to ensure your child's procedure is as easy and stress-free as possible.
How the CO2 Laser Procedure Works
CO2 laser treatment is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed in the dental office. The laser emits a beam of light that removes tissue with precision and minimal damage to the surrounding area.During the procedure, the child is given a local anesthetic to numb the area. The laser is then used to remove the excess tissue in the frenulum, allowing the tongue or lip to move freely. The procedure is quick and typically takes less than 10 minutes. Most children experience little to no discomfort during or after the procedure.
The Benefits of CO2 Laser Treatment
CO2 laser treatment for tongue-ties and lip-ties offers several benefits, including:
- Quick and easy procedure
- Minimally invasive with no need for stitches or sutures
- Little to no discomfort during or after the procedure
- Improved breastfeeding or bottle-feeding
- Improved speech and language development
- Improved dental health and alignment
Learn More About CO2 Laser Treatment
Do You Take My Insurance?
Sweetpea Smiles works with many dental insurance companies, and we are happy to file and track your claims to help you maximize your benefits. We are in-network with most PPO plans which include the following: Cigna, Metlife, Delta Dental, Aetna, Guardian, BlueCross BlueShield, United Health Care, Principal Life Insurance Company, and Boon Chapman.
Do You Offer Financing?
Yes, we do! Sweetpea Smiles offers affordable patient financing through CareCredit. Patients who qualify can finance most or all of their out-of-pocket healthcare expenses with low monthly payments. We also offer a unique discount plan exclusively for our uninsured patients!
Do You Accept Walk-Ins And Emergency Appointments?
Yes, we accept walk-ins as scheduling permits and offer emergency appointments to meet your child’s treatment needs. Our team also offers same-day treatment to help you fit dental care into your family’s busy schedule. Whenever possible, we will begin a treatment plan the same day your child is seen. Our family-block appointments also make it easy for families with two or more children to make time for dental visits. Siblings can be seen at the same time or back-to-back.