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Kajal Joshi, DMD, Bozena Ligas DMD,
Jamieson Brady, DDS
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Frenectomy Information
A quick and painless procedure for lip & tongue ties.
What is a frenectomy?
A frenectomy, also known as a lip-tie or tongue-tie release, is a simple procedure that removes or reduces connective tissue (frenum) from under the tongue or upper gums. It sounds painful, but thanks to cutting-edge dental laser technology, a frenectomy has never been easier.
Overall, a frenectomy is an essential oral treatment to help babies and children enjoy normal function of their mouth, stay healthy, and avoid speech problems in the future.
Tongue Tie:
A lingual frenectomy is performed to correct a tongue-tie, which limits the tongue’s ability to move. Babies with tongue-tie often have trouble breastfeeding, speaking, and eating. During a tongue-tie release, the frenum tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth is trimmed back.
Lip Tie:
A labial frenectomy is performed to correct a lip-tie. Children with a lip-tie have too much tissue connecting the upper or lower gums to the front of the teeth. This prevents newborns from latching during breastfeeding. If left untreated, not only will latching be a problem, a lip-tie can cause orthodontic issues in children and gum recession in adults.
Dr. Joshi's personal experience with frenectomies
As an experienced dentist, I’ve helped young patients and their parents handle every type of dental issue imaginable. Yet, despite my training and experience, I was surprised to hear that my newborn son was tongue tied.
Our pediatrician assured me his tongue-tie was minor, nothing to worry about. My lactation consultant encouraged working around it. But feedings became nearly impossible, and my poor, frustrated baby boy would start biting in an effort to compensate for his inability to latch.
After finding a certified lactation consultant, we successfully diagnosed the problem - Sahil was tongue-tied and lip-tied! He had a short attachment to the muscles in his tongue and upper lip (frenum), restraining movement and of course affecting his feeding. After attempting every conservative approach recommended, we decided to have this treated using laser frenectomy.
This was the best choice we could have made, and since then, many parents have heard me recommend the laser frenectomy procedure because it’s quick, comfortable, and easy on both child and parent. The entire process only takes a few minutes, no stitches are needed, and minimal bleeding occurs!
Call our office today to learn more about laser tongue-tie surgery and the innovative technology we use to deliver optimal results.
Have more questions about Frenectomies?
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