You might be thinking to yourself, how in the world would a pediatric dentist help with breastfeeding? To be sure, there are several resources available to mothers with breastfeeding struggles; including a doula, a midwife, a lactation consultant, or the international non-profit organization called La Leche League (translates to the milk league).
We are not lactation consultants or specialists in the birthing process. However, we can help if your doctor, pediatrician, lactation consultant, or midwife determines a medical condition related to difficulty with latching called a tongue tie or a lip tie.
Breastfeeding Challenges Are Not Uncommon
In fact, if you are struggling with breastfeeding, and the only step you’ve taken thus far is to do some research on google, we strongly encourage you to reach out to one of the above-mentioned resources. Breastfeeding is a natural body exchange between you and your baby. Nevertheless, the fact that it is a natural process does not always equate to the term, easy. Breastfeeding can present numerous challenges for a new mother, in spite of the fact that we know a woman’s body is created with the specific ability to produce milk for her baby. A variety of factors can create challenges with breastfeeding including:
pain for the mother
difficulty with latching
anxiety or stress related to breastfeeding in public
concern about supply (many mothers worry: ‘is my baby getting enough?’)
returning to work
The Majority of Mothers Want to Breastfeed
Mothers who struggle with breastfeeding are not alone and are not unique in their challenges (even though it may feel like you are). In fact, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) a little over 80% of mothers start out breastfeeding their babies which is indicates that a majority of mothers want to breastfeed their babies, yet by the three-month mark, the percentage of breastfed babies drops to just under half (46.9%).
How a Tongue Tie or Lip Tie Impairs Latching
If you’re having pain during breastfeeding or your baby struggles to latch, ask your breastfeeding resource support if it could be related to a tongue-tie or a lip tie.
Tickle your baby’s lips with your nipple. This will help the baby open its mouth wide.
Aim your nipple just above your baby’s top lip. Make sure your baby’s chin isn’t tucked into their chest.
Aim your baby’s lower lip away from the base of your nipple. The baby’s lips should be turned outward like a fish. Your baby should lead into the breast chin first and then latch onto your breast. Your baby’s tongue should be extended, and your breast should fill your baby’s mouth.
As stated by these steps, your baby’s lips must be able to turn out, and their tongue must be able to extend. If your baby has a lip tie or a tongue tie, it could prevent your baby from the ability to form a good latch. To further explain we need to understand a bit about the anatomy of the mouth. The tongue is attached to the floor of the mouth by a thin membrane called the lingual frenulum. The lips as well, are attached by a thin membrane to the gum which is called the labial frenulum. These membranes should be thin enough to allow movement of the tongue and lips, when the frenulum is too short or thick and tight, it restricts mobility which can therefore impair latching capability. If your baby is unable to create a seal on the breast that enables them to suction out the milk, they may be squeezing your breast or nipple which is painful.
How We Can Help?
To clarify, if your baby has a lip tie or a tongue-tie there is no negative stigma associated with either of those terms. Neither means your baby has a disfiguration, nor does it automatically mean your baby will struggle to latch during breastfeeding. If you believe your baby has a tongue or lip tie but can breastfeed without pain, then put it out of your mind. However, if your breastfeeding supporter believes a lip tie or tongue tie is contributing to breastfeeding challenges, call us for a consult about a simple, effective procedure called a frenectomy.
What is a Frenectomy?
A frenectomy is a procedure that snips the lingual or labial frenulum. Traditionally, a frenectomy was conducted merely with surgical scissors. At Utah Pediatric Dentists, we perform frenectomies via our LightScalpel CO2 laser. Our laser allows this quick procedure to be less painful and less traumatic as well as with increased accuracy, safety, and quicker healing.
Following the frenectomy, the frenulum will reform, albeit thinner or longer than its previous state. To ensure this, we provide wound treatment, follow-up care, and education for stretching exercises to ensure the reformed frenulum allows proper mobility. We are pleased to work with your breastfeeding supporter to provide well-rounded and collaborative aftercare for you and your baby.
Healing from a Frenectomy
Thanks to the CO2 laser, which both disinfects and cauterizes the wound site immediately, there will be little to no bleeding following the procedure, and you can breastfeed your baby immediately after to help soothe your baby (and you!) The wound site itself will have a diamond shape appearance, which will change colors during the healing stages: white, yellow, and/or green are all appropriate colors that do NOT indicate infection.
Call Utah Pediatric Dentists for a Frenectomy
Each of the three of our office locations in Redwood, South Davis, and Herriman has a LightScalpel CO2 laser. Our staff and pediatric dentists have performed hundreds of frenectomies, some of our patients driving long distances to utilize our services. We are cognizant of the fears that parents may have at the thought of a frenectomy for their precious baby, and we both respect and honor those fears by being patient, present for questions, and supportive of a collaborative breastfeeding approach for mothers.
With our busy schedules and seemingly endless to-do lists, it is easy to put off taking our kids to the dentist – we probably don’t go ourselves unless we are suffering from unendurable pain. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right? This expression might have some truth to it, but it certainly does not apply to our oral health. When it comes to your kids’ pearly whites, prevention and early treatment are key to ensuring not only your children’s oral health but their overall physical health as well.
Read on to learn more about pediatric dentistry and where to find the best pediatric specialists in Salt Lake City.
What Is a Pediatric Dentist?
A pediatric dentist is a specialist who provides preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs. Pediatric dentists provide care, carry out research, and teach in diverse clinical and institutional settings. They collaborate with other health care providers and
members of social disciplines for the wellbeing of children.
To become a pediatric dentist, after four years of dental school, a dentist must complete a 24-month advanced education program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Pediatric dentistry programs cover a variety of disciplines, techniques, procedures, and skills which are adapted to the particular needs of infants, children, adolescents, and those with special health care needs.
The work-scope of a pediatric dentist encompasses all of the following:
• Behavior guidance (for example, pacifier use and thumb sucking)
• Care of medically and developmentally compromised and disabled patients
• Supervision of orofacial growth and development, including early assessment and treatment for straightening teeth and correcting an improper bite (orthodontics)
• Caries prevention, including cleaning and fluoride treatments, as well as nutrition and diet recommendations
• Repair of tooth cavities or defects
• Management of gum diseases and conditions including ulcers, short frenulae, mucoceles, and pediatric periodontal disease
• Care for dental injuries (for instance, fractured, displaced or knocked-out teeth)
• Pharmacological management, including sedation
Why Is Pediatric Dentistry Important?
As any parent knows, children usually feel nervous or even terrified of the simplest medical procedures – and unfortunately visits to the dentist are not the exception. Thankfully, pediatric dentists know how to examine children and interact with them in ways that put them at ease. Furthermore, the entire office is geared towards children from the equipment to the decoration – don’t underestimate the soothing effect of a set of Peppa Pig scrubs!
Not only do pediatric dentists win over their patients with fun outfits and decorations, but – more importantly – they also explain and demonstrate to kids step by step what they will do before they even ask the children to open their mouths. For example, a water flosser looks scary even to adults, but if children have seen how it works and maybe felt the water on their hands, instead of being afraid, they might think it seems fun and look forward to a cleaning.
Is Pediatric Dentistry a Modern Invention?
As parents, it often seems like the world our kids are growing up in is vastly different from the one we grew up in, and it is hard to distinguish between true improvements/necessities on one hand and inventions of consumer society on the other. However, in the case of pediatric dentistry, the American Dental Association officially recognized this specialty in 1940, and the American Academy of Pedodontics was founded in 1947. Furthermore, the first book on children’s dentistry dates all the way back to 1742. In other words, pediatric dentistry is by no means a new fad.
Moreover, taking kids to the dentist nowadays is even more important than it was in the past. According to the latest National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004), tooth decay in children ages two to eleven has been increasing since the mid-1990s with younger children being more severely affected. The aforementioned survey found that 42% of children two to eleven have had dental caries in their primary teeth, so if you haven’t yet taken your children to the dentist, it is imperative that you do so; remember that with oral health sooner is always better.
Kids Dentist Near Me
If you live in or around Salt Lake City, Utah, we have three conveniently located pediatric dentistry offices for you to choose from: in Redwood, in South Davis, and in Herriman. Click on the location nearest you to get to know us a little better – the more you know us, the more you’ll love us; then call to schedule your child’s appointment today!
April is well-known for hi jinks and tricks on the very first day, the beautiful blossoms on trees signifying the end of the cold winter months, and dewy cool mornings, however, did you also know that April is also the national awareness month for Autism Acceptance?
What is Autism?
Autism, also referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ‘refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication’, according to the Autism Speaks foundation.
It’s important to note that not all children or adults with autism present the same behaviors. Nevertheless, children with autism regardless of where on the spectrum they fall can struggle with tasks that require socialization, strange sounds, or new environments. A trip to the dentist for any child can come with challenges. In fact, in December we wrote an article specifically addressing the unfortunate truth that many children experience nervousness or anxiety about a trip to the dentist. Therefore, it is completely understandable that a child with autism may experience anxiety or fear of a trip to the dentist as well.
In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, we’re writing this article for the parents of children on the Autism Spectrum. We’ve written before about the added value of attending a pediatric dentist for all your children instead of a general dentist. Nevertheless, this article specifically addresses the autistic community and the important reasons why a pediatric dentist is the best option for dental care for your autistic child or teen.
Reasons Why You Should Take Your Autistic Child to a Pediatric Dentist
1. Pediatric dentists complete additional training specific to child development, child psychology, children with special needs, and specialized tools and techniques that better serve children. We aren’t suggesting our dentists did a special weekend seminar. In fact, pediatric dentists complete an additional two, sometimes three years of training compared to general dentists.
This additional training means that you can be confident of a few specific and vital points:
We are dedicated to a positive dental office experience for all children.
When selecting our chosen career paths, we choseto work, specifically, with children.
We care about the dental health of all children.
2. We offer sedation dentistry. This point is specific to our three office practices. Each of our pediatric dentists and their offices is fully equipped to provide three different sedation dentistry options: oral sedation, nitrous oxide, and intravenous sedation. Together our pediatric dentists have performed over 30,000 in-office sedation procedures. We understand that despite good communication, an office tour, and explanations of the tools and what purpose they serve some kids will struggle with the sensory experience or even the period of time required for them to sit still. Sedation dentistry is a helpful support to provide necessary dental treatments or complicated procedures in a manner that is less stressful for your child.
Tips for Your Trip to the Pediatric Dentist
Each child with autism is different and has different challenges and specialties. This is a varied list of ideas that may be appropriate for some but not all children on the spectrum. You are the expert when it comes to your child, we hope you can find something on this list that could be helpful.
1. Visit the office before the appointment and take pictures. It may be helpful for your child to visit the office without the pressure of the dental appointment on the same day. Let them sit in the waiting room and discover the atmosphere of it. Take some pictures of the waiting room and staff. Later, at home, show them the pictures and discuss.
2. Stop over at your local library and ask for books about the dentist. Libraries are a fabulous source of reading literature that may not pop up on a Google search. Ask your librarian about videos or music on the topic as well. You might be surprised by what they can find for you.
3. Prioritize and habituate dental hygiene at home. Our children form habits now that can stay with them forever. This applies to children on the spectrum as well. Are you fostering dental hygiene habits at home?
4. Role-play a trip to the dentist. Parents should practice being the patient as well as taking a turn as the dentist. Practice lying down and holding your mouth wide open. Purchase rubber gloves, and a small dental mirror from a nearby pharmacy for a more in-depth role-play experience.
5. Bring a comfort item to the appointment. There is nothing wrong with allowing your child their comfort item for a dentist’s office visit. Whether it be a blanket, a toy, a stuffed animal, or some other item of personal importance, we encourage it.
6. Lay the groundwork for a positive experience. Ask to visit with the pediatric dentist ahead of time. Share with the staff and the pediatric dentist your child’s diagnosis, and specifics about his or her behaviors, ability to communicate, and any sensitivities to lights or sounds.
7. Practice with visual sequencing cards (and bring them to the appointment). The National Museum of Dentistry put together a comprehensive guide for families with children on the spectrum. This guide covers topics supporting at-home dental hygiene, preparation for a trip to the dentist, and even includes visual sequencing cards that you can print and cut out. Find and download the guide, here.
Utah Pediatric Dentists Welcome Families with Autism
At Utah Pediatric Dentists, we welcome kids with special needs. Each of our dentists is dedicated, compassionate, loving father. Our support staff is selected because of their dedication to our mission and vision. We believe that all children have the right to healthy teeth and happy smiles.
Please call us and share your child’s diagnosis and needs. We will take the necessary steps to provide you and your autistic child with comfort, understanding, and compassion for a positive dental office experience.
This month we’re here to hit the topic of nutrition in light of the fact that March is the national nutrition awareness campaign. Nutrition is tightly bound to dental health in all of us, regardless of age. Nevertheless, in our children, the cyclical nature of nutrition and dental hygiene is perhaps of even higher importance on the grounds that the habits they form now and tastes that they develop now will have a lasting impact on their entire lives.
It’s no secret that sugary sweets and sodas are terrible for our bodies, they serve no nutritional value for our bodies. Moreover, they are horrible assailants on the enamel of our teeth. The enamel, which is the stronger than bone surface of our teeth, is unfortunately vulnerable to the very substance that we love to consume.
According to Lisa Bodnar, Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences, “Children who are fed diets high in added sugars are more likely than children with lower sugar intakes to have a number of negative health consequences as they develop, including childhood obesity, cardiovascular disease and tooth decay.”
So, we know added sugars are the ‘big bad’ but that leaves much of food left unaccounted for. What should you be encouraging your kids to eat?
Recommended Healthy Snacks
Vitamin A, casein, calcium, and phosphorous are all nutrients that work to maintain, strengthen, and protect tooth enamel, while vitamin D works to help your body absorb calcium. Folic acid is another goodie that is essential for healthy gums. Here’s a quick list of foods that contain a few or all these nutrients:
Celery
Carrots
Spinach
Kale
Broccoli
Eggs
Milk
Yogurt
Cashews
Almonds
Peanuts
Apples
Pears
The majority of the foods on this list are crunchy in their natural state, and that is a positive and helpful aspect. These crunchy foods serve an additional benefit to the nutrients they provide by their deliciously crunchy nature; they help to clean your teeth while you eat. They will scrape along the enamel of your teeth and pull free the harmful bacteria and sugar that hide out in the valley and in-betweens of the teeth. Of course, they won’t replace the necessity of floss or routine brushing of the teeth, but they help all the same.
Nutrition Tips for Parents
So how can you help your little ones develop healthy eating habits that provide nutrition and flavor? Here’s six basic tips:
1. Control what is available in your home. You hold the power of the grocery list in your hand, literally. If you are committed to a nutritional menu of snacks and meals in your home for your family, then you can start by limiting the availability of unhealthy foods. It’s harder for your kids to eat junk foods as a snack when they aren’t even available in your pantry of cupboards.
2. Repetition is key. It’s not unusual whatsoever if your kids say they don’t like the taste of unsweetened foods. The entire food group of vegetables is constantly maligned considering it doesn’t possess the natural sweetness that its sister group fruits does. Brave parents, do not give up! Research shows that trying vegetables repeatedly can bear fruit (pardon the pun). Some experts say they need to try it 12 times, others say ten times will do the trick. Take heart from this, dear parents. Our children from infancy are biologically predisposed to not like the bitter flavors of vegetables. To overcome that disposition, repetition and patience is necessary.
3. Watch out for hidden sugars. Our food industry has cleverly moved to sugar-free and low sugar labels, but this doesn’t automatically mean you are buying what you think. Sweeteners such as high-fructose corn syrup, saccharin, aspartame may be found in the ingredients list in the tiny writing of these sugar-free labels. Perhaps the utmost surprising offender for this is yogurt. We generally consider yogurt to be a healthy breakfast or snack food. Nevertheless, it is often packed with sugar or sweeteners while frequently the low-fat options are the worst culprits. If you can’t hop on board with plain yogurt, look for yogurts with 10 grams or less of sugar per serving.
4. Switch to making your own smoothies and fruit juices. When we buy fruit juice in the supermarket, we may feel like we’re opting for a healthier drink juice for our kids instead of soda. Unfortunately, numerous fruit juices available are high in sugar just like their soda compatriots. Do you have a blender in the kitchen? You can create your own fruit juices or smoothies by simply combining washed fresh fruits (or plain frozen fruits) with milk or water in your blender.
5. Alter the typical party menu. Birthday parties and events always have a food and drink component. While it might identify your parties as different than those of your neighbors or friends, you can alter the menu to suit your nutritional goals. If you’re baking your own cake, consider reducing the amount of sugar you use in the recipe or using whole grain flour instead of the typical white flour. Offer your home-blended fruit juices or smoothies instead of soda or chocolate milk. Instead of plates of cookies and candies, offer plates of fresh fruits and crunchy vegetables.
6. Brush at least twice per day and floss once per day. You thought we wouldn’t mention this part? Dental health is directly linked to our overall health. As the American Dental Association says, ‘ Healthy mouth, healthy body’. While you’re working to instill healthy nutrition habits in your home, include dental hygiene habits as a part of it as well.
Is it Time for a Cleaning?
Have your kids had their first biannual cleaning of the year yet? Nearly all dental insurance plans cover biannual dental cleanings. Give us a call today to schedule your kid’s dental cleaning appointment!
Have you heard of lasers being utilized in pediatric dentistry? We aren’t talking about the red security alarm lasers that make the burning hiss sound in Mission Impossible movies when Tom Cruise is conducting international spy feats that boggle the mind. Instead, we’re talking about highly specialized, cutting-edge technology that is specifically designed for soft tissue procedures and treatments. These exceptional lasers are called CO2 lasers, carbon dioxide lasers, and they serve specific and important purposes in the world of pediatric dentistry.
Lasers have been a documented part of dentistry practice since the 1980s, although some sources indicate even as far back as the 1960s or 1970s. Certain dental procedures require cutting of the soft tissue, and lasers developed to be more accurate, less painful, and quicker to utilize than the traditional knife and scalpel.
In laser dentistry, there are basically three different types of lasers available. The dental diode laser, the erbium laser, and the carbon dioxide laser. The carbon dioxide laser has been used in dentistry procedures since 1991. In our pediatric dental offices, we have the carbon dioxide LightScalpel laser, and its use has helped countless children swallow, eat, and breastfeed more easily via lip and tongue tie releases, also known as frenectomies.
What is a Carbon Dioxide Laser?
The diode lasers are more common due to the fact that they are a more economical purchase for a practice. However, the diode laser tip will become white hot to burn the tissue for the procedure and is not particularly fast. A procedure for an upper lip tie can take anywhere from 60 seconds up to two full minutes.
Erbium lasers possess the capability to perform both soft tissue and hard tissue procedures, however, the bleeding that accompanies erbium laser use in a soft tissue procedure exceeds the accompanying bleeding when a carbon dioxide laser is used.
Carbon dioxide lasers work to cut soft tissue by vaporizing instead of burning. CO2 lasers vaporize the intended area and in conjunction coagulate the tissue, resulting in little to no bleeding, and work quickly to get the job completed. An upper lip tie procedure with the CO2 laser can be completed as quickly as 20 seconds. Treatments with the CO2 lasers are less invasive because they are quick and able to be incredibly accurate without disturbing the surrounding tissue, furthermore, they do not generate heat such as the diode lasers do.
For What Procedures Do We Utilize the CO2 Laser in Our Offices?
We employ the CO2 laser to perform a frenectomy. What is a frenectomy? A frenectomy is the name of the procedure we perform to release a lip tie or a tongue tie. This begs the questions, ‘what is a lip tie?’ and ‘what is a tongue tie?’
Take a moment to consider the anatomy of your mouth. Inside the top of your lip, and also the bottom of your lip, there is a thin flap of tissue that bridges your lip to the gum line. This is called the labial frenulum. Similarly, there is a thin flap of tissue connecting the floor of your mouth to the underneath of your tongue, this is referred to as the lingual frenulum.
The labial frenulum should be thin and have some stretch to allow your lips to puff out a bit. Additionally, a long and thin lingual frenulum allows the tongue the mobility necessary to swallow and move chewed foods around in our mouths. However, some of us are born with a labial frenulum or lingual frenulum that is short and/or tight which in turn impedes mobility and movement. To be clear, a short or tight labial or lingual frenulum isn’t automatically a problem. Nevertheless, if your baby is having trouble creating a proper latch for breastfeeding, or your toddler is experiencing difficulty with chewing and swallowing you should ask your pediatric dentist for a consult on the matter.
What is the Healing Process After a CO2 Laser Frenectomy?
The actual procedure is very quick, but we don’t just send you on your way with a pat on the back and well wishes. The healing process is quicker than it would have been with a diode laser or a scalpel, but here’s what you can expect:
You will observe a wound in the area where the frenulum was, typically in the shape of a diamond. This wound, over time, will reform a new frenulum that should be longer and allow greater mobility.
As you take note of the diamond-shaped wound, over the course of a few days it will form what is called a “wet scab”. The wound (wet scab) will turn white, yellow, and even a greenish color. Do not be alarmed by the green, this is not a sign of infection, merely the natural part of the healing process for a wound inside of the mouth.
You can expect the healing process to take a few weeks. We will remain with you every step of the way, providing wound management, and education about exercises for the lips and tongue post-procedure that enhance success. Call us today to schedule your child’s dental appointment at one of our three clinics in Bountiful, Taylorsville, or Herriman.
Are CO2 Lasers Safe?
Unequivocally, yes. Our LightScalpel CO2 Laser is FDA cleared for various dental laser surgeries including frenectomies. Thousands of parents in the South Davis County area, and from beyond have trusted us with their little ones to make this treatment as quick and painless as possible.
If you believe your child has a lip tie or tongue tie that is impacting their mouth motor functioning, give us a call! Our pediatric dentists are specially trained in the use of the CO2 LightScalpel Laser and compassionate to the concerns of parents. Come in for a consultation and we can discuss whether a frenectomy is an appropriate course of action for your child.
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