Our dentists offer frenectomy services to treat tongue ties and lip ties in infants and adults. This procedure addresses restricted frenum, also referred to as the thin piece of tissue that secures other muscles, such as the tongue or the upper/lower lip.
What are the symptoms of a tongue tie?
Tongue ties can affect the growth and development of the teeth and jaw, affecting alignment, tongue movement, and speech. In infants the primary concern is a poor latch for breastfeeding.
Low frenal attachments of the upper lip or the lower lip can cause gum recession, stripping away the gum tissue. In many cases where the frenal pull has been left untreated and the gum recession is advanced, soft tissue grafting (gum grafting) is needed in addition to the frenal release (frenectomy)
How is the procedure completed?
The procedure is accomplished under local anesthesia. The frenum is released and the surgical site sutured with very fine sutures. Pain and discomfort is managed by use of pain medication, most commonly Advil (Ibuprofen)
