The treatment your healthcare professional will recommend depends on the severity of your child's condition. It's possible for some cases of posterior tongue-tie to eventually loosen up and relax on their own. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, if breastfeeding is the only concern, your doctor may recommend the aid of a lactation consultant or infant feeding expert to see if the situation can be resolved without your child needing surgery.
But some doctors prefer to prevent any possible eating or speech issues that may develop in the future by performing surgery right away. The two most common procedures for tongue-ties are:
- Frenotomy. Sterile scissors are used to make a small cut in the frenulum, allowing your child's tongue to move more freely.
- Frenuloplasty. This more extensive procedure may be recommended if your child's frenulum is too thick for a frenotomy. During this procedure, your child would undergo general anesthesia while the surgeon uses surgical tools to release the frenulum. They then use sutures to repair the incision. Speech therapy and tongue exercises may be part of the recovery process.
These are relatively simple procedures, and, in general, they're safe, too. But like any surgery, there are potential risks that are important to look out for, like:
- Severe bleeding.
- Infection.
- Injury to the salivary ducts.
- Breathing difficulties or trouble breathing..
If you notice any symptoms or side effects that concern you after your child's procedure, contact your healthcare professional right away.