After your consultation appointment, Dr. Amy and Dr. Jill will make a decision on whether or not your child would benefit from a tongue, lip, or buccal tie release. If treatment is recommended, you will be given the following consent form. Please feel free to review this form in advance of your appointment and present any questions or concerns to Dr. Amy at your appointment.
Diagnosis:
After a careful oral examination of my child’s mouth, Dr. Amy has identified restrictive tension/shortened frenula tissue under the tongue (lingual frenulum), central upper lip (labial frenulum) or cheek areas (buccal frenula). The restrictive tissue may be related to symptoms experienced.
Such tethered oral tissues can limit function during breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, chewing and swallowing, articulation and can affect maxillofacial development, orofacial muscle tension, and sleep patterns.
Recommended Treatment:
In order to treat this condition, Dr. Amy has recommended a frenectomy (a procedure to release the tight frenula tissue). Your child will be swaddled and safety goggles will be placed. A CO2 laser will then be used to release the restrictive frenula tissue. Depending on the child’s age, a bite block may be used to keep the mouth open during the procedure.
The treatment may help accomplish the following:
Allow the tongue/lip/cheeks to move in a greater range of motion
Improve breastfeeding/bottle-feeding comfort and efficiency
Improve reflux/digestive symptoms, body tension, oral posture and/or sleep patterns
Reduce the severity of speech and eating difficulties
Risks and complications of this treatment include but are not limited to:
Lack of improvement
Post-surgical bleeding, pain, swelling, feeding aversion
Re-attachment of the frenulum or development of scar tissue that may cause a return of the original symptoms
Possible need for a second procedure (if the initial results are not satisfactory)
Injury to adjacent structures: salivary glands, ducts, nerve, muscle and skin
Rare possibility: infection, numbness, allergic reaction, aspiration
Very rare possibility:
Vitamin K deficiency bleeding or other undiagnosed bleeding disorder
Complications due to underlying medical conditions
Supplemental records and their use:
I consent to photography and filming of my child’s oral structures and/or release procedure for educational use in lectures, social media, or publications provided my child’s identity is not revealed
Necessary follow-up and self-care:
I understand that it is my responsibility to adhere to wound care instructions and follow up appropriately with recommended health care professionals (IBCLC/bodyworker/SLP/OT etc). I will need to come for post-op appointments with Dr. Amy so she can monitor and evaluate my child’s healing. Failure to comply could lead to an unsatisfactory or sub-optimal outcome.
I have read and fully understand the terms and words within this document. The benefits and possible risks were discussed as well as alternative care options, including no treatment or bodywork/oral motor therapy.