FRENOTOMY IN GREENSBORO, NC
.png)
.png)
.png)
WHAT IS A TONGUE-TIE RELEASE?
Tongue-tie release, or frenotomy, is a surgical procedure to treat a condition known as ankyloglossia (also known as tongue-tie). The condition occurs when the lingual frenulum, a piece of skin connecting the tongue to the mouth’s bottom palate, is too short or tight, restricting the tongue’s movement. This causes issues with articulation, eating, breathing, and swallowing. Tongue-tie release involves cutting the tight piece of skin, allowing the tongue to move freely.
HOW DO WE TREAT TONGUE-TIE DIFFERENTLY AT OUR OFFICE?
The dentists at Evergreen Dental Co. take a proactive and extra diligent approach to tongue-tie release. We adopt different techniques to release the frenum and allow free tongue movement. The first type of treatment we administer is a traditional frenectomy, which involves snipping part of the frenum.
A frenectomy starts with frenuloplasty, which determines the root cause of the tongue tie. Next, we move to myofunctional therapy, which trains muscles around your face, particularly the mouth and tongue, on a neuromuscular level. Doing so strengthens and improves the coordination of the tongue and surrounding muscles.
Your dentist will then snip the frenulum using a sharp blade or a laser. The process is virtually painless since the frenum only contains a few nerve fibers and blood vessels.
Did you know…
Dental bridges can be used to replace up to 3 consecutive missing teeth.
SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD MIGHT NEED TONGUE-TIE RELEASE
HEART-SHAPED TONGUE
The most obvious sign of tongue-tie is a heart-shaped tongue. The heart shape forms when the lingual frenum holds the center of the tongue in place when they try to lift it, causing a depression at the center of the tongue. Your child may need a frenectomy if you notice this heart shape when they lift or stick out their tongue.
DIFFICULTY BREATHING WHEN BREASTFEEDING
Babies with tongue-tie have difficulty breastfeeding. That’s because the short frenulum restricts the movement of the tongue, which prevents proper airflow while breastfeeding. This could, in turn, lead to malnutrition and problems with weight gain. A tongue-tie release helps avoid both.
CLICKING SOUNDS WHILE FEEDING
Does your baby make clicking sounds while breastfeeding or drinking from their bottle? If so, your child likely has a short frenulum. The clicking sounds indicate your child’s attempt to latch onto your nipples but failing. Most of the milk they draw from your breasts actually leaks to the sides while they try to latch onto the nipples. The baby eventually stops feeding from exhaustion.
Did you know…
Bridges preserve your alignment, and keep your other teeth from shifting.
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FRENOTOMY? FIND ANSWERS HERE.
CAN ADULTS SUFFER FROM TONGUE-TIE?
Yes, adults can suffer from tongue-tie if it wasn’t addressed while they were infants. You may need a frenotomy if you have problems lifting your tongue up and moving it from side to side. We follow the same procedure when performing tongue-tie on adults as we do on babies. The procedures have a high success rate, and the results are permanent.
Did you know…
Dental bridges are non-surgical and can last for several decades with proper care.