Lip and Tongue-Tie Release

in Fort Worth, TX

World-Class Pediatric Dental Care with a Gentle Touch

Babies are sometimes born with lip or tongue-ties, impacting their feeding and quality of life. Sunny Side of the Street Pediatric Dentistry is pleased to offer laser lip and tongue-tie releases, a safe and gentle alternative to traditional surgical releases. You can count on Dr. Tyfanni and her team for exceptional, compassionate care.

Cute little baby smiling after his lip and tongue tie release surgery

What Is a Lip or Tongue Tie?

Inside the mouth are thin bands of tissue that stabilize the lips and tongue, called the frenula. A lip tie occurs when the upper lip stays attached to the upper gum due to the maxillary frenulum being too short. A tongue tie (ankyloglossia), on the other hand, is an abnormally short lingual frenulum attaching the tongue to the floor of the mouth, which inhibits normal tongue function.

Challenges posed by moderate to severe lip and tongue-ties include a large gap between the front teeth called a diastema, difficulty with brushing and flossing, increased risk of tooth decay and gum recession, problems with breastfeeding, and airway difficulties. Lip and tongue-ties can also impact speech development, swallowing, and proper nutrition and interfere with proper growth and development.

What Is a Lip or Tongue-Tie Release?

A lip or tongue-tie release, also known as a frenectomy, is a procedure involving the release of the fibrous tissue under the upper lip or tongue to allow for a better range of motion. Our LightScalpel CO2 soft tissue laser does not cut the excess tissues but vaporizes them using light energy. The quick and simple procedure releases the connective tissues from under the lip or tongue, improving your child's range of motion and quality of life.

What Are the Benefits of Laser Frenectomies?

Unlike traditional lip or tongue-tie release surgery, laser frenectomies often require no anesthesia or stitches and are virtually painless, with minimal bleeding and recovery time. They also come with a much lower risk of infection and take a matter of minutes to complete. Once the procedure concludes, you can resume nursing your little one right away!

Laser frenectomies are beneficial to children of all ages. After treatment, children enjoy improved speech, better nutrition, increased weight gain, fewer orthodontic problems, and a better quality of life.

Stretches After a Lip or Tongue Tie Release

One of the most important things you'll need to do after a tongue or lip-tie release is to perform stretching exercises. Otherwise, you risk the frenulum reattaching and creating new limitations. Our team will demonstrate the quick and precise stretches to ensure the procedure's success.