Infant & Child Frenectomies

At Care for Kids, we help your child achieve a happy, healthy smile. This includes evaluating not only your child's teeth, but also their overall oral development.

Healthy oral development includes:

  • Lips closed at rest and when chewing

  • Normal speech, without delays or articulation difficulties

  • Restful sleep, without snoring or heavy breathing

  • The ability to eat a range of food textures, without gagging or difficulty swallowing

What is a frenum?

A frenum is a small tissue that attaches either the lip to the gum tissue, or the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Most of these tissues function as they should. For some kids, the tissue is too tight and is associated with problems in oral function or development. This is commonly referred to as a lip tie or tongue tie.

How will you perform my child's frenectomy?

Our Providers perform this procedure with a laser to maximize your child's comfort, healing, and outcomes. The procedure takes only a few minutes. For a couple of days afterward, soreness is possible and is helped with over-the-counter remedies. Begin aftercare stretches a few hours after the procedure. Continue to do after care stretches for a minimum of 6 weeks and 6times per day. It is helpful to do the stretches before a feeding

What can I do to help my child if he/she needs this procedure?

We recommend you help your child with stretches for optimal healing and mobility. We also may refer your child do another provider. Depending on your child's needs, he or she may benefit from seeing an ear-nose-throat physician, a speech pathologist, a lactation consultant, a myofunctional therapist, or a chiropractor. 

What are some signs of a lip or tongue tie in infants?

The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend mothers to exclusively breastfeed infants for the first six months of life to help children achieve optimum growth, development and health. We do what we can to help you achieve this. One of the most common barriers to successful breastfeeding is related to restricted oral function.  Common symptoms of lip and tongue ties during infancy include:

  • Prolonged feeding

  • Slow or poor weight gain

  • Poor latch to breast or bottle

  • Clicking or smacking noises during feeding

  • Reflux from swallowing excess amounts of air

  • Milk leaking from the mouth due to a poor seal

  • Painful nursing

What are some signs of a lip or tongue tie in older children?

If these tight tissues are not identified earlier in life, other concerns can develop. Some signs and symptoms associated with lip and tongue ties for children include: 

  • Crowding or flaring of teeth

  • Pulling on the gums around teeth, causing recession of gums or gaps between teeth

  • Inability to chew age appropriate solid food with possible gagging, choking or vomiting

  • Speech delay or speech clarity difficulties

  • Mouth breathing

  • Poor sleep quality

  • History of nursing difficulties 

Where can I learn more?

We believe in evidence-based care for your child. Please see the links below for more information:
Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and the critical role of oral-facial growth: evidences