Pediatric Frenectomy for Tongue Tie

Airway Evaluation for Better Sleep & Health in Hawthorne, California

Child sleeping peacefully with teddy bear

A tongue-tie can create challenges for infants and children, affecting everything from feeding to speech. At Hawthorne Children’s Dental, we provide a gentle and effective solution with our pediatric frenectomy procedure. Our team is here to help your child thrive by addressing tongue-tie issues with compassionate, expert care.

xray scan of childs airway

What is Tongue Tie?

A tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, is a condition where a small band of tissue under the tongue (the lingual frenulum) is unusually short, thick, or tight. This can restrict the tongue’s range of motion. While some children are unaffected, for many, it can interfere with important functions like breastfeeding, eating solid foods, and speaking clearly.

Signs Your Child May Need a Frenectomy

Tongue-tie can present different challenges at different ages. Identifying the signs early is key to providing effective treatment.

Common signs include:

  1. For Infants: Difficulty latching during breastfeeding, poor weight gain, clicking sounds while nursing, or fussiness during feeding.

  2. For Toddlers and Children: Trouble with speech articulation, difficulty moving food around in the mouth, or a V-shaped or heart-shaped notch at the tip of the tongue when extended.

If you notice any of these signs, a consultation at our Hawthorne, CA, office can determine if a frenectomy is the right solution.

How a Frenectomy Can Help

A frenectomy is a simple, minimally invasive procedure that releases the tight frenulum, allowing the tongue to move freely. This quick procedure can provide significant benefits for your child.

The advantages include:

  1. Improved Feeding: A frenectomy can make it easier for infants to latch, improving their ability to breastfeed effectively.

  2. Clearer Speech: Releasing the tongue allows for a full range of motion, which is crucial for proper speech development.

  3. Better Oral Hygiene: A free-moving tongue can more easily clear food debris from the teeth, reducing the risk of cavities.

Our Gentle Approach to Frenectomy Procedures

At Hawthorne Children’s Dental, we perform frenectomies using advanced techniques, often with a dental laser. This modern approach is incredibly precise, minimizes discomfort, and promotes faster healing. The procedure itself takes only a few minutes.

Our team is specially trained to work with infants and children, ensuring they remain as comfortable and calm as possible throughout the visit. We provide detailed after-care instructions to help you support your child’s healing process at home.

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Are you concerned that your child may have a tongue-tie? Our expert team can provide a thorough evaluation and guide you toward the best solution for your child’s health and development.

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Frequently Asked Questions

We prioritize your child’s comfort. The procedure is very quick, and we use effective methods to ensure discomfort is minimal. For infants, the procedure is often done before they even realize what happened. Laser frenectomies are particularly gentle and lead to faster healing.

Recovery is typically very quick. We will provide you with simple stretches and exercises to perform at home to prevent the frenulum from reattaching and to encourage proper tongue movement. Most children resume normal activities almost immediately.

Many dental and medical insurance plans provide coverage for frenectomies, especially when they are deemed medically necessary for feeding or speech. Our team can help you understand your benefits and navigate the insurance process.

A frenectomy can be performed at any age, from newborn infants to older children. If a tongue-tie is causing feeding issues, it is best to address it as early as possible. We can help determine the ideal timing for your child.