What to Expect at Consultation
At the Michigan Tongue-Tie & Airway Center, we take a comprehensive approach to the surgical procedure of the . Please read our instructions and learn what you can expect before booking a consultation with our pediatric tongue-tie dentist in Okemos, MI.
Important: Read Before Scheduling a Consultation.
For All Parents
Do NOT feed your child one hour before the tongue-tie release appointment.
For Parents of Newborn Babies
If your baby is a newborn, the procedure can be done only if the child has had a Vitamin K shot or wait at least 2 weeks after birth with oral Vitamin K supplementation. This is to ensure that your child has the necessary Vitamin K for blood clotting.
For Parents of Children Over Age 1
Children over age 1 must be working with a speech pathologist, feeding therapist, myofunctional therapist, and/or bodyworker both prior to and after the to ensure a successful outcome.
Preparing for Your Child’s Consultation
If you are referred from another health care provider such as a pediatrician, speech and language pathologist, lactation consultant, ENT doctor, or sleep medicine doctor—in order to make the consult effective—please email other providers’ reports and progress notes to office@mydiscoversmiles.com 7 days ahead of your appointment.
If it is a sleep or swallow study, it is imperative Dr. Ramaswami has access to these reports and has time to review them ahead of your appointment. It is your responsibility to bring or email these reports. Do NOT rely on your referring office to do so.
The Lip & Tongue-Tie Consultation
Dr. Ramaswami and her assistant will go over your child’s medical history and symptoms, as well as the mother’s medical history and symptoms. They’ll then complete a thorough exam, completing the Hazelbaker/Martinelli assessment for infants and/or Marchesan/tongue range of motion for toddlers and older children.
A screening for sleep-disordered breathing will also be done at this time. These are scientific validated assessments that, along with clinical assessment and the symptoms of the parent and patient, will help us arrive at a diagnosis. It will also help us understand if releasing the tongue-tie will help your child or they have other underlying medical issues that are challenging feeding. Pre-op photos of your child’s tongue/mouth will be taken.
If you have any clinical questions following the consult, Dr. Ramaswami will answer them and educate you on how tongue-tie affects your child.