Infants
Difficulty latching, shallow latch, long feeding sessions, clicking noises, excessive gassiness, spit up, fatigue during feeds, slow weight gain, drooling, or colic-like symptoms.
Services
Tongue and Lip-Tie Treatment
Gentle laser care in less than a minute
Overview
Tongue and lip-ties can affect feeding, digestion, speech, breathing, sleep, and dental development. Dr. Cathy uses a gentle CO2 laser that is precise, fast, and designed to make treatment easier for children and parents.
Contact Us
Does your child have a tongue or lip-tie?
Approximately 10% of children born in the US do. A tongue-tie or lip-tie is a congenital condition that restricts the movement and function of the tongue or upper lip.
This condition can hinder your baby's ability to latch and feed from day one. As your child ages, it can also contribute to facial development, feeding, sleep, speech, and orthodontic concerns.
Dr. Cathy uses a gentle CO2 laser to treat this. It takes less than a minute and typically does not require anesthesia. There is less bleeding, no trauma, and you can feed your baby before you leave.
- Improper facial development
- Gag reflux and feeding issues
- Sleeping and breathing issues
- Speech delays or impairments
- Orthodontic problems
Symptoms to watch for
Mothers
Painful feeding, milk remaining after feeding, low supply, blocked ducts, mastitis, thrush, or nipple trauma such as cracking, bleeding, bruising, creasing, or flattening.
Children & Adults
Difficulty talking, eating, swallowing, picky eating, gapped front teeth, crowded teeth, headaches, teeth grinding, snoring, mouth breathing, or a heart-shaped tongue tip.
Why families choose frenectomies
Improves Feeding
Feedings can become more effective and comfortable for both baby and mother.
Supports Development
The tongue affects how the skull and face grow and function.
Helps Speech
Treatment can improve a child's ability to pronounce sounds and words.
Sleep Quality
A release may reduce snoring and sleep apnea risk when ties are part of the concern.
Better Digestion
Better tongue and lip mobility can support diet and digestion from infancy onward.
Dental Health
Treatment may help prevent teeth grinding, orthodontic issues, and related concerns.
No stitches needed
A traditional frenectomy involves cutting the frenum with a sharp tool and stitching the wound. At The Kidds Place, the LightScalpel CO2 laser offers a gentler alternative.
Parents prefer this soft tissue laser because it is extremely precise, vaporizes oral tissue instead of cutting, usually involves very little bleeding, often requires no anesthesia, takes less than one minute, and supports a fast healing process.
Dr. Cathy has extensive training and education on tethered oral tissues, pediatric airway analysis, and studied directly under the creator of the LightScalpel.
Questions?
We are happy to help.
Call or text us at (509) 252-4746, and our team will help you choose the next right step.
River reviews
Kind Words Floating By
Real family feedback drifts through the river, just like little notes from the trail.
“The staff was very kind and helpful from the minute we walked through the door.”
“Best place ever, so friendly, so caring, so sweet, and we never wait past our appointment time.”
“The whole atmosphere is great. My kids love coming to the dentist.”
“Everything the dental assistant said and did was designed to be helpful and comforting for kids.”
“It is always a positive experience, from a welcoming front staff to the kind and caring hygienist.”
“The staff at Kidd's Place is absolutely amazing with kids of all ages.”