Frenectomies for Lip & Tongue Ties in New Braunfels, TX
Tongue and lip ties can cause your child to experience issues with sleeping, latching during breast or bottle feeding, speech, and other difficulties. A frenectomy is a quick, minor surgical procedure that can alleviate those complications and improve your child’s quality of life. At Children’s Dental Ranch of New Braunfels, our expert team offers frenectomy procedures to address and correct these issues in a safe, effective, and comfortable manner.
What Are Lip & Tongue Ties?
Lip and tongue ties are caused when the frenum, a small fold of tissue, restricts the movement of the tongue or the lips, leading to difficulties with speech, feeding, or oral hygiene. During a frenectomy, the doctor will carefully release this tissue in order to free the movement of the tongue or the upper lip.
Frenectomies are most commonly performed for two conditions: a tongue-tie (ankyloglossia), where the lingual frenum restricts tongue movement, and a lip-tie, where the labial frenum restricts the movement of the upper lip. These conditions can affect individuals from infancy through adulthood, but early diagnosis and treatment can help alleviate potential complications.
What Happens During a Frenectomy Procedure?
Performed by our skilled dental professionals, frenectomies are typically quick and involve minimal discomfort. With advances in dental technology, we utilize precise techniques that ensure the procedure is as efficient and comfortable as possible. For our youngest patients or individuals who may feel anxious about the procedure, we offer sedation options to ensure a calm and stress-free experience.
- Pre-Procedure Assessment: Our team conducts a thorough evaluation, including a review of your child’s medical and dental history and a physical examination of the affected area.
- Sedation Options: We understand that any procedure can be intimidating for children. We offer various sedation options to ensure that your child is comfortable and anxiety-free during the procedure.
- Performing the Frenectomy: Using a laser or a scalpel, the restrictive frenum is carefully cut. The laser option offers benefits such as minimal bleeding, reduced infection risk, and quicker healing times.
- Post-Procedure Care: After the frenectomy, we provide detailed aftercare instructions to promote healing and prevent complications. We also schedule follow-up visits to monitor your child’s progress and address any concerns.
Benefits of Frenectomies
- Improved Breastfeeding & Bottle Feeding: For infants, a frenectomy can immediately improve the ability to latch during breastfeeding or bottle feeding, providing relief to both the infant and the mother.
- Enhanced Speech: Addressing a tongue-tie can improve speech clarity by allowing for the full range of tongue movement necessary for certain sounds.
- Better Oral Hygiene: With increased mobility, individuals can more effectively clean their teeth and gums, reducing the risk of oral health issues.
- Increased Comfort: Removing restrictions of the frenum can lead to increased comfort in daily activities, including eating and speaking.
Personalized Care and Follow-Up
We believe in personalized care tailored to the needs of each patient. Following a frenectomy, we provide detailed aftercare instructions and support to ensure a quick and smooth healing process. We may also recommend follow-up visits to monitor healing and, if necessary, additional therapies or follow-ups with other providers to maximize the benefits of the procedure, such as speech therapy or exercises to improve tongue mobility.
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Dr. Ashley Hill
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Children's Dental Ranch of New Braunfels
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