Does My Child Have a Tongue-Tie?

A tongue-tie, also known as ankyloglossia, is a condition in which the thin piece of tissue (lingual frenulum) that connects the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth is too tight or short. This can restrict the movement of the tongue and make it difficult to perform certain actions, such as sticking out the tongue or moving it from side to side. Tongue-ties can vary in severity and may not cause any problems for some people, but for others, they can interfere with breastfeeding, speaking, or eating. In some cases, a tongue-tie may require treatment to release the tissue and improve the function of the tongue.

Not all lip-ties and tongue-ties require treatment. After careful examination and diagnosis, our team may recommend intervention. We may also recommend referral to a lactation consultant, speech and language pathologist, or physician.

At Brite Bite, our pediatric dentists evaluate and treat lip- and tongue-ties using soft tissue lasers. A laser frenectomy is a procedure that uses a laser to remove a piece of tissue, such as the lingual frenulum (tongue-tie) or the labial frenulum (upper lip-tie), that is restricting the movement of a body part. This type of surgery is typically performed on infants or young children who have a tongue-tie or lip-tie that is interfering with breastfeeding, speaking, or eating.

Laser frenectomies offer a number of benefits over traditional surgical methods. Laser frenectomies are usually less painful and have a faster recovery time than traditional surgeries. In addition, lasers allow for precise and controlled removal of tissue, which can reduce the risk of complications and improve the overall outcome of the procedure.

One of the key advantages of laser frenectomies is that they are less invasive than traditional surgical methods. Laser frenectomies use a highly focused beam of light to remove the tissue, which minimizes the risk of infection and reduces bleeding. This means that the procedure is generally more comfortable for the patient and has a shorter recovery time.

Laser frenectomies are a safe and effective way to treat tongue-ties and lip-ties in infants and young children. If your child has been diagnosed with a tongue-tie or lip-tie and is experiencing difficulty breastfeeding, speaking, or eating, we would be happy to see you for a consultation to determine if a frenectomy would result in improvement.