EASING RESTRICTIONS OF YOUR TONGUE (Tongue-Tie Surgery In Singapore)

Tongue-Tie Release

Ankyloglossia or rather known as tongue-tie in Singapore, occurs when the band of soft tissue, called the lingual frenulum, at the bottom of your tongue, is short or tight. This restricts your tongue movements.

This is usually a birth condition and can be identified in infants when mothers experience breastfeeding problems. It happens in certain cases in Singapore and is not a rare phenomenon. It may also occur in adults as a result of severe scarring diseases, such as Epidermolysis Bullosa (a rare inherited skin disorders that cause the skin to become very fragile. Any trauma or friction to the skin can cause painful blisters).

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What is a Tongue-Tie Release?

Frenotomy:

In this procedure, the thick and short flap of skin connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth is cut.

A tongue-tie release is generally a simple procedure, where the tongue is lifted and the band of tissue attaching your tongue to the floor of the mouth is trimmed. This allows your tongue to move freely and engage in its full range of movements.

It is usually performed on infants as it is done with ease at this stage as compared to an older child or adult.

Enhanced speech.
Some individuals with tongue-tie may have imprecise articulation, especially at speed. Having tongue-tie release surgery may possibly enhance the speech speed and enunciation of certain words.
Enhanced dental health.

Cavities ('dental caries') can occur due to food debris not being removed by the tongue’s action of sweeping the teeth and spreading saliva. Having the surgery will help enhance the tongue flexibility.
Enhanced eating habits and digestion system.
Some children with tongue-tie are messy eaters due to a restricted ability to tidy up inside and outside of their mouths while they are having a meal. Some are unable to circle their lips with their tongues in order to fully lick their lips. In extreme cases poor oral hygiene can lead to digestive complaints.

Enhanced appearance.
The tongue can be unduly obvious or unusual looking in some individuals, particularly when they are close up, or appear on video, film or TV.
Enhanced self-esteem.
It has been noted clinically that occasionally an older child or adult will be self-conscious, embarrassed or resentful about their tongue tie.

Do I Need a Tongue-Tie Release?

A tongue-tie release in Singapore is commonly done for babies to prevent stunted growth and tongue restriction. Babies with tongue-tie show signs and symptoms such as:

The mother having nipple pains during and after breastfeeding;

The mother having flattened-looking nipples after breastfeeding;
The mother having a white compression mark on the nipple after breastfeeding;
The baby failing to gain weight;
The baby having difficulty feeding and swallowing (during breastfeeding), which can cause inadequate nutrition.

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Risks of Tongue Tie

In severe cases of tongue-tie, your tongue is not able to lift to touch the roof of your mouth. This can have many negative consequences, such as:

An inability to sweep food particles around your mouth;
Inaccurate speech and pronunciation;
The tip of the tongue involuntarily protruding out of your mouth;
Misalignment of your teeth from the lack of guidance input from your tongue, which guide the growth and positioning of your front teeth to grow;
Having difficulty brushing and flossing your teeth and gums, which eventually lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

A tongue-tie release can help to alleviate all of these problems.

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Cost of Tongue-Tie Release Surgery

Tongue-Tie Release Surgery Cost In Singapore

The information provided below is of a general nature solely as you would need to be examined by our dentists in order to confirm the best treatment option for you.

The treatment cost for Tongue tie release surgery in Singapore ranges from S$1000-S$3000. This is non-inclusive of the consultation fee and other surcharges that may be incurred in the process of the surgery (E.g Anaesthesia).

If you are a Singaporean or a permanent resident of Singapore, Medisave may be utilised to partially cover the applicable fees for tongue tie surgery. You can claim up to S$350 via Medisave for the surgery.

For details on Medisave coverage, please call us for information.

What Does the Procedure Involve?

Stage 1: Consultation

Evaluating Habits & Behavioural Patterns

Your dentist will ask you a series of questions regarding yours or your infant’s food consumption, speech, etc., and examine the mouth to determine the severity of the tongue-tie.

Stage 3: Post-Operative Care

After the procedure, your dentist will give you instructions on how to look after your mouth.

Stage 2: Tongue-Tie Release Procedure

The tongue-tie release is quick and will take less than 15 seconds and the results are immediate.
For infants, no anaesthetic will be given. They might experience slight discomfort during the procedure but they tend to recover speedily within minutes, often with no recollection. We recommend for your infant to immediately be breastfed after if possible, to help them revert their usual selves faster and efficiently.
For older children or adults, a local anaesthetic may be needed before the procedure. Recovery is also generally quick.

Tongue Tie Release Surgery FAQs

Is tongue tie release surgery painful?
The entire procedure takes less than 15 seconds and does not require anaesthesia. The frenulum is very thin and has few nerves, meaning there is very little pain associated with the procedure. Babies can breastfeed immediately after the procedure, and mothers often notice enhancement with the first feed.
At what age should a tongue tie be cut?
Newborns can undergo tongue tie release surgery.
Can tongue tie release surgery go wrong?
When done professionally by a dentist, it doesn't cause any problems at all.
What happens after tongue tie release in adults?
You will have some swelling of the floor of the mouth/under the tongue. Keep dampened gauze in for 2 hours with good pressure. Then remove gauze and check surgical area for bleeding. If bleeding persists, place fresh dampened gauze over the area with good pressure for 1 hour.

Can tongue tie affect sleep?
If tongue-ties remain untreated, they can lead to structural and functional changes in the facial-respiratory complex and can impact sleep throughout the lifespan. Tongue-ties and low tongue resting postures often lead to or exacerbate mouth breathing.
How long will my baby be sore after tongue tie release surgery?
For most babies, the first 48-72 hours are the hardest after a tongue tie release procedure. However, after day 3 the discomfort subsides considerably and breastfeeding will be easier.

Why Choose Nuffield Dental?

Nuffield Dental is a one-stop, multi-disciplinary dental care centre in Singapore. At Nuffield, we put you first. We believe in providing personalised service for each patient.

Nuffield Dental is a one-stop, multi-disciplinary dental care centre. Here at Nuffield Dental, we pride ourselves of our personalised oral care for each and every one of our patients. We need to make sure you get all the help you need to make your dental procedures comfortable, accessible and seamless.

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