Many people know the phrase tongue-tied to mean speechless or confused, usually as a form of shyness or embarrassment. The term comes from the condition tongue-tie or ankyloglossia. Tongue-tie, also known as lip-tie, is a condition present at birth that restricts the tongue’s range of motion. Sometimes tongue-tie doesn’t cause problems, and other times it requires correcting. The children's dentists at Alaska Dentistry for Kids are experts at kid’s dental care, from routine cleanings to laser correction for tongue-tie.

The children’s dentists at Alaska Dentistry for Kids, located in Anchorage, are experts in providing compassionate care for children with dental problems. With tongue-tie, a band of tissue tethers the bottom of the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth, causing problems with breastfeeding, eating, speaking, and swallowing.

If lip-tie isn’t corrected, it can cause problems later in life, including poor oral hygiene. For example, tongue-tie can make it difficult to remove food debris from the teeth, which can lead to tooth decay or inflammation of the gums.

If you notice that your infant has trouble breastfeeding or your child’s speech is affected by lip-tie, Alaska Dentistry for Kids performs a simple laser treatment for tongue-tie.

In addition to offering laser correction for lip-tie, the children’s dentists at Alaska Dentistry for Kids offers routine cleanings, fillings, extractions, crowns, and root canals. Alaska Dentistry for Kids is committed to providing compassionate, patient dental care to infants, children, and individuals with special needs.

For more information about Alaska Dentistry for Kids, visit their website. You can also schedule an appointment at the Anchorage clinic bycalling (907) 274-2525.