Lip and Tongue Tie

A lip and/or tongue tie is the result of soft tissue (frenum) that is too tight, limiting movement and function of the lip or tongue.  In some cases, this tight tissue can cause difficulties in breastfeeding, and can contribute to tooth decay and/or speech problems.  Surgery to correct a lip or tongue tie is called frenectomy or frenotomy.  

  

At The Nest Pediatric Dentistry, we use a laser to quickly and safely release lip and tongue ties.  

If you are concerned that your child has a lip or tongue tie, please call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Pelzer at 515-650-NEST or by clicking “request an appointment” on this page.  After meeting with Dr. Pelzer, many parents feel more informed and empowered when deciding whether or not to proceed with treatment for their child. 

You can see in the picture below, Dr. Pelzer is holding our infant safety glasses and is standing next to the CO2 laser.  The older kids tell us it looks like a pencil!  We have a room dedicated to laser procedures and welcome moms to feed infants after their treatment.

Dr. Pelzer has taken a special interest in this issue because her daughter had a tongue tie at birth.  Dr. Pelzer has treated infants as young as one day (her own daughter!). 

“I took my son to Dr. Pelzer to be evaluated for oral ties. Every staff member was kind and welcoming. The receptionist even checked with our insurance company ahead of time. We were seen promptly at the time of our appointment and the evaluation process was explained to us in advance. Dr. Pelzer shared her assessment and recommendations and listened to all of my concerns. I left with resources for our next steps. We had a great experience and will definitely be back!” -Megan T.

“Absolutely fantastic experience taking our 2 week old with a tongue tie. Each staff member was friendly, knowledgeable and informative. Highly recommend!” -Sam S.