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Laser Frenectomies
Shine Pediatric Dental Co. offers early care options that affect your child's entire oral development, including treating soft tissue concerns like lip ties and tongue ties. As a specialist in children's dental care, Dr. Sarah Severson strives to implement early intervention strategies that facilitate better skeletal development, dietary habits, airway and breathing structures, speech, and nursing/breastfeeding. One of the services we offer is soft tissue frenectomy therapy, a laser assisted treatment offering same-day results for infants, toddlers, children, and teens.
Understanding Frenectomies: Beyond the Basics
A frenectomy is a minor surgical procedure that involves the removal or modification of a frenulum, the small strip of tissue that connects the lips to the gums and tongue to the floor of the mouth. While frenulums/frenums are a natural part of your child's oral anatomy, certain conditions can cause the tissues to be too tight or positioned in a way that limits the natural range of motion in their tongue and lips. This can alter their jaw formation, whether they're able to latch for feeding, and contribute to speech issues as well as other normal oral functions.
Dr. Sarah uses laser-assisted soft tissue treatment to quickly treat tongue and lip ties in a gentle, noninvasive manner. The most common areas for frenectomies are the lingual frenulum (under the tongue) and the labial frenulum (inside the upper lip).
Dr. Sarah uses laser-assisted soft tissue treatment to quickly treat tongue and lip ties in a gentle, noninvasive manner. The most common areas for frenectomies are the lingual frenulum (under the tongue) and the labial frenulum (inside the upper lip).
Why Frenectomies Matter: Benefits for Your Child
- Enhanced Speech Development: The lingual frenulum plays a crucial role in speech development. If it is too short or restrictive (a condition known as ankyloglossia or "tongue-tie"), it can impede proper tongue movement, leading to speech difficulties. A frenectomy can help improve speech clarity and pronunciation.
- Improved Feeding in Infants and Toddlers: For breastfeeding infants, a tight lingual frenulum can make latching difficult, causing discomfort and frustration for both the baby and mother alike. A frenectomy can resolve this issue and promote a more successful breastfeeding experience and is available for children as young as newborns. Inability to properly move tongue and improper tongue function can impact ability for a young child to chew and swallow food, this can lead to texture aversions and even gagging or increased risk of choking on foods. With the coordination of a Speech Language Pathologist or Feeding Therapist, lots of improvement can be made post frenectomy in regards to chewing and swallowing.
- Prevention of Dental Issues: In some cases, an excessively tight labial frenulum can lead to a gap between the front teeth, a condition known as a diastema. By addressing this concern early through a frenectomy, we can help prevent potential orthodontic problems in the future.
- Improved Sleep, Breathing and even Behavior/Attention: Tethered oral tissues have been correlated with obstruction of the upper airway which can lead to symptoms of Sleep Disordered Breathing and even Obstructive Sleep Apnea in children and adults. These tissues if not addressed can also lead to obligatory mouth breathing, can obstruct the airway causing symptoms that negatively impact sleep quality and duration including: snoring, nocturnal grinding, restless sleep, frequent night terrors, co-sleeping and even prolonged nocturnal urination. Poor restorative stages of sleep negatively affect Growth Hormone Release which impacts your child's overall ability to grow and function properly day-to-day.
The Shine Pediatric Dental Co. Approach: Expertise and Compassion
Dr. Sarah and her team are experienced in performing frenectomies with a focus on precision and patient comfort. She will conduct a comprehensive examination to determine if a frenectomy is necessary. We commonly work with specialists like pediatricians, lactation consultations, and speech therapists to determine the best route of care for children exhibiting symptoms of tissue restriction.
Our practice is equipped with state-of-the-art laser technology, allowing us to perform frenectomies using the latest techniques that minimize discomfort and promote faster healing. Most babies can feed immediately after the procedure with minimal discomfort.
Our practice is equipped with state-of-the-art laser technology, allowing us to perform frenectomies using the latest techniques that minimize discomfort and promote faster healing. Most babies can feed immediately after the procedure with minimal discomfort.
Call Shine Pediatric Dental Co. Today
At Shine Pediatric Dental Co., Dr. Sarah focuses on your child's entire oral development rather than just their teeth. Everything from their airway to tongue placement plays a role in your child's jaw growth and tooth placement. For expert care or a frenectomy consultation in Round Rock, call our office today.
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