What are some of the problems caused by lip tie and tongue tie in adults?

 Are you an adult that is experiencing problems because of a dental lip tie? We can help. Here is more information on problems you may encounter as an adult with a lip tie.

·       Dental issues

-lip tie can trap food next to the teeth and make it difficult to brush and end up with dental cavities

-tongue tie causes restrictive movement of the tongue and is unable to clean the food particles off the back teeth and end up with dental cavities

-tongue tie, lip and buccal ties may cause gum recession. Strong muscles of the tongue, lips or cheeks pull on the gum tissues over time and exert a traumatic force that can cause the gums to recede.

·       Tooth grinding (Bruxism).  This is a hypothesis discussed in Dr. Richard Baxter’s book, Tongue Tie

-tooth grinding was thought to be a stress related problem.  The more stress you have, the more grinding is done during sleep.  The new thinking is that night time teeth grinding may be a sign of sleep-disordered breathing. This could be a tongue tie problem; the tongue is restricted with its movement.  When you sleep, the tongue falls backwards and blocks the airway.  It is hypothesized that the brain causes the teeth to grind and arouses the person to a lighter state of sleep. 

·       Other problems are migraine, sleep apnea, neck tension and posture

For more information on adult lip tie or to schedule your laser lip tie procedure, contact Dr. Anna Lee and her team today. 

How lip tie & tongue tied is treated?

Why do lip tied and tongue tied need to be treated/corrected?

·       Lip and tongue tied babies may have breastfeeding problems.  The poor latch at the breast may cause the milk dribbles out of the mouth when feeding and as a result the baby does not get enough milk to feel full.  This leads to having to feed the baby every 30 to 60 minutes. Some babies use excessive pressure to bite the nipples to get milk and the mother’s nipples end up cracked, creased or flattened.  This is a painful nursing experience.

·       Lip and tongue tied children may have dental, speech and orthodontic issues.

·       Lip and tongue tied adults may have dental problems (decay, gum recession), teeth grinding (bruxism), sleep disorder (sleep apnea), migraine, neck tension and posture issues.

Both tongue and lip ties can be treated in quick procedure that is painless, it usually may not require anesthesia.  The procedure is called frenectomy; the removal of the membrane that connects to the tongue or lip.  Frenectomy can be performed with the following instruments:

·       Scissors-bleeding

·       Scalpel or sharp surgical knife-bleeding

·       Laser-minimal bleeding, faster surgical time, decreased postoperative pain, quick healing

Dr. Anna Lee is a general & cosmetic dentist in Glendora, CA.  Lip and tongue ties may cause breastfeeding issues for some babies and mothers, dental and speech problems for children, and sleep disorder (sleep apnea), dental and posture problems for adults.  If you have questions about lip and tongue ties, please call for a consultation at 626-335-5114 or visit us at www.annaleedds.com  

What are some of the problems caused by lip tie and tongue tie in children?

Breastfeeding can be very difficult under the best of circumstances and can be even more of a struggle when your baby has a lip or tongue tie. Here are 3 major problems that you may encounter with your little one if a lip or tongue tie goes untreated.

·       Dental issues-

-a lip tie can cause a gap between the upper front teeth (central incisors)

-a tongue tie can cause a gap between the lower front teeth

-lip tie causes difficulty brushing  and traps food or liquid next to the teeth and make it difficult to brush and end up with dental cavities

·       Speech problems

-tongue tie restricts the movement of the tongue to create certain sounds of speech

-tongue tie causes problems of articulation, intelligibility in connected speech, stuttering, speech delay or disorders

·       Orthodontic treatment

-orthodontic treatments are frequently required in patients with lip or tongue ties

-lip and tongue ties cause gaps between upper and lower incisors

-dental crowding issues

For more information about lip and tongue ties or to schedule a consultation contact, Dr. Anna Lee. 

What are some of the problems caused by lip tie and tongue tie in babies?

Tongue and lip ties cause problems on the breast feeding relationship between the baby and the mother.  According to Dr. Lawrence Kotlow, here are some of the problems:

• poor latch and suck

•unusually strong suck due to baby using excess vacuum to remove milk
•clicking sound while nursing (poor suction)
•ineffective milk transfer
•infrequent swallowing after initial let-down
•inadequate weight gain or weight loss
•irritability or colic
•gas and reflux
•fussiness and frequent arching away from the breast
•fatigue within one to two minutes of beginning to nurse
•difficulty establishing suction to maintain a deep grasp on the breast
•breast tissue sliding in and out of baby’s mouth while feeding
•gradual sliding off the breast
•chewing or biting on the nipple
•falling asleep at the breast without taking in a full feed
•coughing, choking, gulping, or squeaking when feeding
•spilling milk during feeds
•jaw quivering after or between feeds

 For more information about Lip Tie Procedures, contact Dr. Anna Lee

What are the symptoms caused by a tongue tie in babies?

Are you breastfeeding your baby but running up against a problem? Are you unsure why your baby is struggling to latch? She/He may have a tongue tie. Here are some symptoms of a tongue tie in your baby...

          If a baby is tongue tied, he or she may exhibit these symptoms during breast feeding:

·       Have trouble lifting the tongue up or from side to side

·       Have a tongue that appears heart shaped or notched in the middle

·       Dribble milk down the side of their mouth when feeding

·       Display excessive fussiness and/or colic

·       Have digestive issues like gas, baby reflux and possibly vomiting

·       Pull off the breast/bottle, crying, hitting or tugging while nursing

·       Make clicking or noisy sucking sounds

·       Chew on the nipple or chomp down hard

·       Fall asleep while nursing (although many babies do this!)

                            If a baby is tongue tied, the mother may:

·       Have sore, cracked or bleeding nipples

·       Have nipples that appear squashed, lip stick shaped, and/or blanched (white)

·       Experience pain while breastfeeding

·       Get frequent infections or mastitis

·       Have milk supply issues due to ineffective removal

What is a lip tie?

                                                       

 A membrane called maxillary labial frenulum that connects the underside of the lip to the gums. Lip tie describes the membrane that restricts the normal movements of the lip.

What is a tongue tie?

A short, thick or tight band of tissue called lingual frenulum connects the bottom of the tongue's tip to the floor of the mouth.  Tongue tie can restrict the movement of the tongue and causes problems for the baby to latch onto the mother’s breast during breast feeding. For older children with tongue tie, they may have difficulty sticking out their tongue. Tongue-tie can also affect the way a child eats, speaks and swallows.

What are the symptoms caused by a lip tie in babies?

      If a baby is lip tied, he or she may exhibit these symptoms during breast feeding:

·       Be unable to latch deeply, if at all, causing mother’s nipple pain and damage

·       Have difficulties staying on the breast

·       Make a clicking sound

·       Splutter or choke on milk

·       Cluster feeding-constant feeding to satisfy the baby’s appetite

·       Exhibit poor weight gain

·       Develop jaundice

·       Be excessively fussy or develop colic

                                       If a baby is lip tied, the mother may:

·       Experience pain during feedings

·       Have damaged or distorted nipples

·       Develop engorgement, blocked, ducts, or mastitis

·       Have milk supply issues (low supply due to ineffective removal)

Welcome to Dr. Anna Lee’s monthly newsletter,

Soon 2018 will be coming to a close, and so will your yearly dental benefits. We would like to remind you to schedule your dental hygiene, exam and/or any other dental procedures as soon as possible in order to fully utilize your 2018 insurance benefits. These benefits, as well as healthcare flexible spending accounts, may expire at the end of December.

Unlike medical insurance, healthcare flexible spending accounts, and most dental insurance plans, do not roll over to the following year. As such, any unused benefits dollars for 2018 will be lost.

We know how busy families are today, but by coming in for regular dental hygiene appointments and exams you may avoid dental complications that may cause you to exceed future dental benefits. We are committed to the prevention of dental disease, and exams and dental hygiene are essential in that effort.

As the end of the year approaches, calendars get busy and things get put off. We kindly ask you to call 626-335-5114 today so that we may schedule your appointment as soon as possible. We want you to maximize your benefits and have the best dental treatment available. Remember, it is always best to catch dental problems early.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

P.S. Don’t forget that most dental insurance plans are “use it or lose it!” Don’t put it off any longer-

Dr. Anna Lee & Staff

Amalgam and Composite fillings

What are amalgam fillings?

Amalgam fillings are also known as “silver fillings.”  Dental amalgam is a combination of mercury, silver, tin, copper and small amounts of zinc, indium or palladium.  Mercury makes up 50% of the filling material and it binds all the other metals together to provide a strong, safe and durable filling.

What are composite filling?

Composite fillings are also known as “tooth-colored fillings” or “white fillings.”  Composite is a blend of plastics and small glass particles that are used to do small and large fillings for front and back teeth.

Pros and Cons of amalgam and composite fillings

Pros: Amalgam fillings

·       Proven-most popular and effective filling material used in dentistry for the last 150 years

·       Economical-cost less than composite fillings

·       Durable

Cons: Amalgam fillings

·       Unesthetic & Noticeable-black/grey teeth

·       Allergies-some people are sensitive to the metals in amalgam

Pros: Composite fillings

·       Esthetic-natural looking, match the color of natural teeth

·       Easy adhesion-bond directly to the tooth surface

·       Preserves maximum amount of tooth structure, less drilling, and less tooth structure reduction

Cons:  Composite fillings

·       More frequent replacement, they don’t last as long as amalgam fillings

·       Placing a composite filling is more involved and it is a longer appointment

Why is mercury used in amalgam and is it safe?

·       Mercury is used in amalgam because it binds all the other metals together to provide a strong, safe and durable filling. Mercury also helps making the filling material pliable. When mercury is mixed with alloy powder it becomes soft enough to mix and press into the tooth.  Amalgam filling hardens quickly and can withstand the forces of biting and chewing.

·       In 2009, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluation and research concluded that amalgam fillings are safe for adults and children ages 6 and above.

Are amalgam fillings a problem?

·       In 1998, the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Council on Scientific Affairs published the scientific literature on dental amalgam and concluded that amalgam continues to be a safe and effective restorative material.  

·       In recent years, tests show very small amount of mercury (vapor) can be released as the amalgam filling wears in the mouth over time.

·       Several reviews of the research concluded that any amount released from amalgam in the mouth is very low.

·       Other studies showed that the amount of mercury people are exposed to from the fillings is less than the amount that people are exposed to in their environment and their foods.

When should amalgam fillings be replaced with another type of dental material?  What material? 

·       Patients should remove their amalgam fillings if tooth is breaking, chipping, decaying or when the filling is worn.  There is no need to replace the amalgam if amalgam is intact with no tooth problems.

·       Removing good amalgam fillings can cause unnecessary loss of healthy tooth structures and can release more mercury (vapor).

·       Depending on the size and locations of fillings; your options are composite fillings, porcelain fillings (inlays/onlays) and others

Dr. Anna Lee is a general & cosmetic dentist in Glendora, CA.  She is knowledgeable about different types of dental material for fillings. If you have any questions about amalgam and composite fillings, please visit us at www.annaleedds.com or call for a dental checkup at 626-335-5114.