Alison Hazelbaker PhD, IBCLC, CST, Robert Convissar DDS, and Martin Kaplan DMD, Paul O'Brien JR DC and Lorraine Aubuchon are teaching a class at Tufts University in Boston, MA. In this combination lecture and hands-on course, attendees will be introduced to the concept of laser frenectomies, an increasingly popular method by which dentists and physicians can treat tongue- and lip-ties in their patients.
As many as 5% of all babies born in the United States have tongue-ties significant enough to cause breastfeeding difficulties. This condition can cause a plethora of problems for both babies (difficulty transferring milk, lack of growth) and their mothers (sore or cracked nipples, mastitis and low milk supply). Babies with tongue-ties can be erroneously labeled as “lazy nursers,” “stubborn feeders" or as “failures to thrive.” They may also be erroneously diagnosed with GI problems, when all that is needed is a simple 30-second frenectomy to release the tongue-tie, the result of which is to restore the baby’s ability to efficiently feed.
In this course, attendees will receive an overview of best practices regarding tongue- tie assessment and treatment, and will participate in a hands-on workshop on how to remove tongue-ties through the use of soft-tissue lasers. They will also receive an update from a licensed chiropractor about how chiropractic issues can affect frenectomy diagnosis, as well as hearing from an office administrator about billing and reimbursement issues.
Day 1 of the course will consist of: lactation background, relevant chiropractic information and a detailed discussion of the science behind pediatric frenectomies.
Day 2 of the course will consist of: a detailed discussion of laser tissue interaction, a hands-on workshop on pig jaws, and a presentation on procedure billing and reimbursement.
Learning Objectives:
•Understand infant sucking physiology and how tongue-ties impair infant suck
•Use evidence-based diagnostic criteria to screen babies for this condition
•Understand all of the consequences and benefits of using lasers to remove tongue-ties
•Be able to perform tongue-tie releases on infants
•Understand how structural issues that interfere with breastfeeding can be relieved through chiropractic cranial work and manual therapies
Class fee: Doctor - $795; Staff/IBCLC - $295
To Register click here