Frenectomy

Lip and tongue problems, such as tongue-tie and lip-tie, can be challenging for children and their mothers. They can make breastfeeding difficult, for example, restrict the movement of the child’s upper lip and tongue, and cause other concerns related to speech and long-term oral health. Bellissima Dental Boutique offers frenectomy, which is an advanced treatment of tongue-tie and lip-tie.

A frenectomy is a procedure in which a medical professional modifies a frenum, also known as a frenulum, which is a band of tissue that joins two areas to prevent one area from moving too far. One frenum connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth, for example, and another connects the lip to the top jaw. Sometimes the frenum is too short or too stiff, though, which prevents the lips or tongue from moving correctly.

About Tongue-Tie and Lip-Tie

Normal tongue function is essential, as it allows an infant to latch well and breastfeed efficiently. The tongue allows a child to swallow food and liquids, and promotes the development of normal speech, growth and development. Being able to stick your tongue out makes it possible to lick an ice cream cone, catch snowflakes, and do many other fun things.

Also known as ankyloglossia, infant tongue-tie is a condition that limits use of the tongue. More specifically, it affects the lingual frenulum, which is a band of tissue that tethers the bottom of the child’s tongue to the bottom of their mouth. Tongue-tie is a condition in which the lingual frenulum is too short or attaches too close to the tip of the tongue. The condition can interfere with breastfeeding, and it can affect the way a child speaks, eats, and swallows.

Lip-tie is a condition that prevents someone from curling their upper lip or from otherwise using their upper lip normally. The labial frenulum connects the upper lip to the upper gum. A lip-tie occurs when the labial frenulum is too short, thick or stiff to allow the upper lip to move freely. An infant lip-tie can make it hard for a baby to latch onto their mother’s breast, breathe during breastfeeding, and to gain weight normally. In time, a lip-tie can lead to issues with speech and eating, and cause jaw pain and protrusion, pain with breastfeeding, a gap between teeth, and other oral health issues.

A lip-tie can also cause issues for breastfeeding mothers. Issues may include pain during or following breastfeeding, breasts that feel engorged even after breastfeeding, blocked milk ducts, and fatigue resulting from frequent breastfeeding that does not seem to satisfy their baby’s appetite.

Treatment for Tongue-Tie and Lip-Tie

A frenectomy can help mothers relieve the pain of breastfeeding, stimulate the production of milk, and regain healthy breasts and nipples - all of which can ensure adequate feeding and growth of the baby. Having positive breastfeeding experiences can also encourage bonding between mother and child.

While lactation consultants can help resolve many problems with breastfeeding, there are some cases in which a frenectomy is necessary. A frenectomy is a procedure in which a healthcare professional modifies the frenulum so that it does not pull excessively on the lip or tongue.

Our tongue-tie dentist at Bellissima Dental Boutique uses precision lasers to perform frenectomy. The laser removes specific areas of the frenum while cauterizing the tissue, resulting in minimal bleeding, trauma, and the development of scar tissue. Many infants and children actually sleep through the procedure. Mothers are relieved by the breastfeeding solutions frenectomy provides, and babies are glad for the tongue-tie for breastfeeding comfort. 

For more information about frenectomy, contact our lip-tie dentist at Bellissima Dental Boutique. We provide the treatment for lip-tie Fayetteville residents rely on and the tongue-tie Fayetteville mothers need for their babies. We look forward to helping babies develop normally and helping mothers get the most out of their breastfeeding experience.

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