The Tongue requires proper function and mobility. Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment require correctly identifying those tethered oral tissues (TOTS) that function without problems and those that are restrictive (RTOT) and create multiple co-morbidities, which can affect a child’s growth and development well into adulthood.

As the medical profession began to learn and understand the benefits of breastfeeding extended far beyond just providing a source of food for infants, more and more mothers have chosen to nurse their infants. As more mothers began to breastfeed, the effects of restrictive tethered oral tissues (RTOTS) such as ankyloglossia, lip-ties and buccal ties need to be addressed and often revised to intercept and prevent the development of many co-morbidities.   The purpose of my presentation is to elevate the assessment, diagnosis & understanding that when there are RTOTS, there are many infant developmental and growth problems that may be related to the RTOTS.

RTOTS need to be considered as a part of many differential diagnostic examination infant growth and development problems. I will discuss how to properly evaluate, assess, and diagnose which ties need to be released or revised.

Learning Objectives:

1.Learn correct way to examine infants, toddlers, and teens for RTOTS

2.Understand comorbidities related to RTOTS

3.How the infant and toddler examinations can be completed without complex detailed assessment tools

Dr. Lawrence Kotlow attended Albany College of Pharmacy (1965-1968) graduated from the SUNY Buffalo Dental School in 1972 and received his 2-year pediatric dental training as a resident at the Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio from 1972-1974. He established his dental practice in Albany, New York in December of 1974. He achieved Board Certified in Pediatric dentistry in 1980. He is a Fellow in the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.  He is a member of the AAPD, ABPD, ADA, New York State Dental Association,3^rd district Dental Society of NYS, American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry and the Academy of Laser Dentistry.

As a member of the ALD, Dr. Kotlow served on the Board of Directors, achieved Advanced Proficiency in Erbium:Yag lasers, CO2 @9300nm and Nd: YAG lasers, as well as Standard Proficiency in the use of diodes and ALD Mastership status. He was the 2014 recipient of the Leon Goldman award for excellence from the Academy of Laser dentistry and in 2022 received the John Sulewski Distinguished Service award for outstanding Commitment and contribution to the ALD. He has lectured on a wide range of clinical applications using lasers on infants and children and establishing the ALD one-day pediatric program at the ALD annual session. He is an internationally known expert on aiding mothers achieving a comfortable and effective latch during breastfeeding due to tongue and lip ties and has lectured to over 5000 health care professionals on the diagnosis, laser treatment and post-surgical care of these infants. He has lectured on Sleep Disordered Breathing, dental lasers, and pediatric dentistry throughout the United States and Internationally in Israel, Canada, Taiwan, France, England, Australia, Philippines ,Japan, Denmark and Italy.

He has contributed to textbook chapters on the use and benefits of soft tissue lasers, hard tissue lasers and Photobiomodulating lasers in Pediatric Dentistry in Dental Clinics of North America 2004, The Atlas of Laser Dentistry and in Principles and Practice of Laser Dentistry. He has had articles published on laser dentistry in the Academy of Laser Dentistry Journal, European Archives of Pediatric Dentistry, Journal of Human Lactation, Journal of Clinical Lactation, Journal of Orthodontics, Journal of General Dentistry, Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, and many others.

In July 2016 he published a book SOS4TOTS as complete book with 160 photos on the diagnosis, and treatment of infants with lingual and labial ties using lasers.

1.5 CE credits available to AAPMD members