Why Consider a Frenectomy For Your Child

Some babies and young children experience problems with breastfeeding, eating and speaking because of an issue with a part of the mouth called the frenum. The frenum is the connective tissue that is found either at the top of the mouth connecting the upper lip to the top of the gums, or in the lower mouth beneath the base of the tongue. Fortunately, issues related to this small and fairly unknown part of the body can be dealt with using a procedure called a frenectomy.

What is a frenectomy?

A frenectomy is a procedure carried out by doctors or dentists that is performed to remove the frenum and, in doing so, eliminate the problems that the patient is experiencing. There are two different types of frenectomy. These are:

Maxillary frenectomy. This targets the frenum in the top of the mouth that connects the front teeth to the upper inside gums.
Lingual frenectomy. This procedure involves the removal of the frenum on the underside of the tongue that connects it to the mouth floor.

A frenectomy is relatively simple procedure that can be performed using just local anesthetic. However, if your child is very young and not able to sit still for the surgery, a general anesthetic may be necessary for safety reasons. In most instances, a soft tissue laser is used to perform a frenectomy. The laser targets the beam of high energy light onto the frenum to remove it. Using laser technology to perform a frenectomy is the fastest and most efficient way of removing the frenum. Studies show that this method typically causes less bleeding, less discomfort and is faster to recover after.

Why should my child have a frenectomy?

There are several different issues that can be treated using a frenectomy. However, there are two that are particularly common.

Ankyloglossia. This condition is characterized by an unusually thick, short frenum that connects the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Since the connection is so short, it makes it hard for a baby to breastfeed properly, and as the child gets older, they may find it difficult to make certain sounds, altering the way that they speak. In some cases, the shortened frenulum may even affect the position of the jaw. Ankyloglossia is also sometimes referred to as a ‘tongue tie’.
Lip-tie. A lip tie affects the frenum between the upper gum and front teeth, and patients with this problem usually find that their frenum is excessively large or tight. Again, a lip-tie can affect an infant’s ability to breastfeed due the position it forces their lips into. This position allows air to be sucked in while they try and suckle the breast, and this can cause bloating and painful gassiness. Left untreated, it can eventually lead to the protrusion of the front teeth and other orthodontic issues.

A frenectomy is an easy and virtually painless way to overcome a number of childhood issues that could be affecting their quality of life. To find out more about this procedure, or to schedule a consultation to discuss a frenectomy with our team, please contact Reaves Dental at (315) 737-4134.