Frenectomy

Frenectomies For Tongue and Lip Ties

Helping Babies and Mothers, Too

If your infant has tongue or lip ties, this can affect their ability to breastfeed and lead to failure to thrive. Even if your child can feed properly, they may still suffer from speech issues or oral health complications later in life. But at Sunny Side of the Street Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Tyffani Palmer is here to help.

We offer laser frenectomies to release tongue and lip ties. With treatment from our team, your infant can feed properly, avoid oral health issues, and enjoy a healthier mouth as it grows and develops.

Explaining Tongue and Lip Ties – What Are They?

Tongue Ties (Ankyloglossia)

Tongue ties happen when your child’s “lingual frenum” is too thick or tight. The lingual frenum is the band of tissue that connects the tongue to the base of the mouth. If you look in the mirror and lift your tongue up to the roof of your mouth, you can see it pretty easily!

If this band of tissue is too thick, it impairs your child’s ability to move their tongue. In turn, this reduces their ability to latch onto the nipple when breastfeeding. Your child may cry a lot when feeding, have trouble staying attached to the breast or have trouble gaining weight.

Lip Ties

Lip ties are similar to tongue ties, but they affect the “labial frenum” instead. This is the band of tissue that attaches the upper (or lower) lip to the gums. Similarly to a tongue tie, the labial frenum can cause issues with lip mobility if it’s too thick or overdeveloped.

Lip ties cause issues similar to tongue ties. Since your baby’s lips can’t move properly, they may have issues latching when breastfeeding, leading to poor nutrition, inadequate weight gain, and failure to thrive. In toddlers, untreated lip ties can also lead to oral hygiene issues or even cause a gap to form between their front teeth.

Understanding The Laser Frenectomy Process

The best way to treat a tongue or lip tie is to “release” it with a frenectomy. This procedure allows your child’s tongue and/or lips to move naturally. At our office, Dr. Tyffani utilizes advanced laser equipment for fast, painless, and effective frenectomies. Here’s what you can expect from the process:

1. We’ll place your child on a safe, comfortable table, and Dr. Tyffani will clean and prepare the treatment area.  

2. Dr. Tyffani will use our soft-tissue dental laser to cut through the tongue or lip tie, releasing it and allowing your child’s tongue or lips to move properly. Each frenectomy usually takes less than a minute.

3. All done! You’ll be sent home with a set of stretches you’ll need to do with your baby. This ensures that their lingual/labial frenum will heal properly after their procedure.

The Benefits of Laser Frenectomies

Compared to traditional surgical tools, soft tissue lasers have tons of benefits for frenectomies:

• Faster treatment procedure

• Virtually painless treatment

• Minimal bleeding

• No stitches required

• Lower risk of infection

Get Relief from Feeding Complications & Other Issues

Concerned that your little one might be experiencing tongue or lip ties? Dr. Tyffani Palmer is here to help! As a board-certified pediatric dentist, you can rely on her and the team at Sunny Side of the Street Pediatric Dentistry to provide the care your baby deserves. Call us now or reach out online to schedule your visit and receive assistance with tongue or lip ties in Fort Worth, TX.