Frenotomies (tongue-ties and lip-ties) in Bay Village, Ohio

Pediatric Dentistry

Tongue‐tie (ankyloglossia) is a condition where the lingual frenum attaches near the tip of the tongue and may be short, tight and thick thus restricting movement. Lip-tie when the tissue  called the frenulum, that connects the lip to the gum is too thick or restrictive preveting the lip from moving freely

Tongue‐tie can be a cause of poor latching while breastfeeding and maternal nipple pain. Frenotomy, which is commonly performed with the LASER chairside, may correct the restriction to tongue movement and allow more effective breastfeeding with less pain.

In older children a common response upon diagnosis is “But, we have had no complaints with nursing or speech.”  Some children adapt, and it may seem like they have no problems.  In order to make up for the restriction, they are compensating with other mechanisms.  For example:  elevating the floor of the mouth or using muscles of the face/neck to achieve the desired movement.  These compensations are dysfunctional and can be detrimental in the long run.

Restrictive lingual frenulum plays a significant role in perpetuating the following phenotypes in obstructive sleep apnea:

• Pediatric sleep- disordered breathing
• Upper airway resistance syndrome
• Adult obstructive sleep apnea related to tongue base collapse and/or maxillary hypoplasia

If a patient presents with ankyloglossia or other frenum abnormalities, a consultation with a dentist AND Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist ( for thorough evaluation and therapy to ease release of tie and prevent reattachment)  is highly recommended. Some exercises you can try at home are ATTACH EXERCISES Frenotomy is a minor procedure performed to loosen or remove overly large, tight or poorly positioned bands of tissue. Timing of the release is based on individual needs as determined at this time of consultation.

Dentists have been quite successful performing laser guided surgeries to prevent the  above mentioned oral problems and complications. Lasers are gentler to soft tissues during release of restrictive frenum.  Lasers promote faster healing of soft tissue surgery and significantly reduce risk of any bleeding.  The procedure takes approximately 2-3 minutes in the dental office.