Frenectomies for Lip & Tongue Ties in Austin, TX
Tongue and lip ties can cause your child to experience issues with sleeping, latching during breast or bottle feeding, speech, and other difficulties. A frenectomy is a quick, minor surgical procedure that can alleviate those complications and improve your child’s quality of life. At Lone Star Pediatric Dental & Braces in Austin, TX, our expert team offers frenectomy procedures to address and correct these issues in a safe, effective, and comfortable manner.
What Are Lip & Tongue Ties?
What Happens During a Frenectomy Procedure?
- Pre-Procedure Assessment: Our team conducts a thorough evaluation, including a review of your child’s medical and dental history and a physical examination of the affected area.
- Sedation Options: We understand that any procedure can be intimidating for children. We offer various sedation options to ensure that your child is comfortable and anxiety-free during the procedure.
- Performing the Frenectomy: Using a laser or a scalpel, the restrictive frenum is carefully cut. The laser option offers benefits such as minimal bleeding, reduced infection risk, and quicker healing times.
- Post-Procedure Care: After the frenectomy, we provide detailed aftercare instructions to promote healing and prevent complications. We also schedule follow-up visits to monitor your child’s progress and address any concerns.
Benefits of Frenectomies
- Improved Breastfeeding & Bottle Feeding: For infants, a frenectomy can immediately improve the ability to latch during breastfeeding or bottle feeding, providing relief to both the infant and the mother.
- Enhanced Speech: Addressing a tongue-tie can improve speech clarity by allowing for the full range of tongue movement necessary for certain sounds.
- Better Oral Hygiene: With increased mobility, individuals can more effectively clean their teeth and gums, reducing the risk of oral health issues.
- Increased Comfort: Removing restrictions of the frenum can lead to increased comfort in daily activities, including eating and speaking.
Personalized Care and Follow-Up
Meet The Doctors
At the heart of Lone Star Pediatric Dental & Braces are our dedicated professionals. Our team, led by skilled and compassionate dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons, brings a wealth of knowledge and a child-friendly approach to each appointment. Our staff is continually trained in the latest dental techniques, ensuring your family receives the best possible care.
Our Dentists
Dr. Rachel Montgomery
Dr. Valerie Fong
Dr. LaResea Woods
Dr. Elizabeth Scott
Dr. Peggy Chang
Dr. Sally Ok
Dr. Aleksandra "Allie" Dragojevic
Dr. Katya Basora-Rovira
Dr. Anthony Machani
Dr. Jonathan McNair
Dr. Clayton Fisher
Dr. Fareeda Bacchus
Dr. Sangeet Kalkat
Dr. Ken Zhou
Dr. Sarah Park
Our Orthodontists
Dr. Ashley Hill
Dr. Jacob Keller
Dr. Hani Alsibai
Dr. Leo Freitas
Frenectomies FAQs
What is the difference between a frenectomy and a frenotomy?
Both frenectomy and frenotomy procedures aim to relieve a tight or short frenulum, also called a tongue tie or lip tie. The frenulum is a fibrous tissue connecting other soft tissue in the mouth. The mouth has the lingual (tongue) frenulum, which connects your tongue to the floor of the mouth, and the labial (lip) frenulum, one connecting your upper lip to the gums between the two front teeth and one connecting your bottom lip to the gums below your lower two front teeth. The frenulum is there to provide support and stabilize the lips and tongue.
A frenectomy procedure involves completely removing the frenulum to help give the patient full function of their tongue or lip. A frenotomy, on the other hand, involves “trimming” the frenulum, removing tissue slightly until the tongue or lip can move more freely. Your pediatric dentist will determine the best procedure for your child’s needs.
At what age is it appropriate to consider a frenectomy for my child?
A frenectomy can be performed at any age! For infants, the procedure is often considered when feeding issues arise. In older children, your child’s pediatric dentist may recommend a frenectomy to address speech difficulties or to help relieve oral discomfort.
How do I know if my child needs a frenectomy?
While each child is different, signs that may indicate a need for a frenectomy include speech challenges, difficulty breastfeeding, or a gap between the front teeth caused by a tight frenulum. Schedule an appointment with our team today to see if a frenectomy procedure is right for your child.
What are the potential risks associated with a frenectomy?
Frenectomies are generally very safe and well-tolerated by our young patients. As with any minor procedure, there’s a small chance of mild bleeding or temporary discomfort, but serious complications are uncommon. At Lone Star, your provider will use a laser instead of a scalpel or scissors, ensuring less bleeding, no sutures, and faster healing and recovery.
Your pediatric dental team at Lone Star Pediatric Dental & Braces will provide detailed aftercare instruction and will help schedule any required follow-up visits.
Will a frenectomy improve breastfeeding for my infant?
This depends on your child’s unique scenario. If a tongue tie or lip tie is disrupting breastfeeding, a frenectomy can often improve your infant's ability to latch and feed effectively. Talk to your child’s pediatric dentist if you believe your child may have a tongue or lip tie.
How long does the frenectomy procedure take?
Frenectomy procedures are typically quick! They often take approximately 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the type of frenectomy procedure and method used.
What is the recovery time after a frenectomy?
After a frenectomy procedure, initial recovery typically happens within a few days, but complete healing can take one to two weeks. Your pediatric dentist will provide post-operative care instructions to help aid in recovery.
Are there specific aftercare instructions following a frenectomy?
Following a frenectomy, your pediatric dentist will provide aftercare instructions that may include gentle stretching exercises to prevent reattachment, maintaining oral hygiene, and consuming soft foods during the initial recovery period. These instructions will be tailored to your child’s needs.
Can a frenulum reattach after a frenectomy?
In some cases, the tissue can begin to reconnect during healing. This outcome is not common, especially when simple aftercare steps, like gentle stretches, are followed. Your pediatric dentist will guide you through the recovery process, giving you everything you need to support healing and reduce the chances of the tissue growing back.
Is a frenectomy covered by insurance?
For a frenectomy procedure, coverage can vary depending on your insurance provider and specific plan. We recommend checking with your insurance company prior to the procedure to confirm your coverage. If you have questions or need assistance, our team is happy to help and discuss insurance and payment options.