Frenectomy / Tongue-Tie Treatment
Safely Remove Tongue-Ties
Free Restricted Tongue Movement With a Frenectomy in Knoxville
A frenectomy in Knoxville can help babies and children when a tight band of tissue beneath the tongue restricts normal movement and contributes to functional difficulties. At Law Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, your dentist can evaluate your child for tongue-tie, also known as ankyloglossia. If needed, the condition can be treated with a surgical frenectomy.
For an infant, restricted tongue movement may become noticeable when breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. As children grow, tongue mobility can play a role in eating, speaking, and other everyday oral functions. Because every child develops differently, determining whether the frenum is actually interfering with function is an important part of deciding whether tongue-tie treatment is necessary.
Give your child greater freedom of tongue movement when a restrictive frenum is getting in the way.
See How We Identify & Treat a Tongue-Tie
The lingual frenum is the small band of tissue that connects the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. In a child with tongue-tie, this tissue may be unusually tight, short, or restrictive. For babies, this may interfere with the movements needed for effective feeding. Your child may have difficulty achieving or maintaining a latch, prolonged feeding sessions, clicking during feeding, or other breastfeeding or bottle-feeding concerns. These symptoms can have multiple causes, however, so the presence of feeding difficulties alone doesn't confirm that a frenectomy is needed.
Older children experience different challenges. Restricted tongue mobility can sometimes affect eating or make certain movements used for speech more difficult. When appropriate, your dentist may collaborate with a lactation consultant, pediatrician, speech-language pathologist, or other healthcare professional to better understand your child's functional needs.
Although tongue-tie is frequently identified during infancy or childhood, older teens and adults can have restrictive tissue as well. Treatment recommendations are always based on the individual's anatomy, mobility, symptoms, and functional concerns. Tongue-tie treatment releases the restrictive tissue beneath the tongue to allow greater mobility.
Visit us today and find out whether a frenectomy in Knoxville could help your child achieve greater freedom of movement and function.
Infant Tongue-Tie
Evaluate restrictive tissue beneath a baby's tongue when limited mobility may be contributing to breastfeeding or bottle-feeding difficulties.
Childhood Tongue-Tie
Identify restrictions that may become more noticeable as a child grows and develops new eating, speaking, and oral movement patterns.
Surgical Frenectomy
Carefully release a restrictive lingual frenum using a surgical approach to give the tongue greater freedom of movement. Enhanced function happens right away.
Collaborative Support
Coordinate with appropriate pediatric, lactation, feeding, or speech professionals when a child's symptoms would benefit from additional evaluation and care.
Frequently Asked Questions About Frenectomy/Tongue-Tie Treatment
Q What is tongue-tie in a baby?
Tongue-tie in a baby is a restriction caused by a tight or unusually positioned band of tissue beneath the tongue. Also called ankyloglossia, the condition can limit the tongue movements involved in feeding and other oral functions.
Q What are signs of tongue-tie in a breastfed baby?
Signs associated with tongue-tie in a breastfed baby may include difficulty latching or staying latched, clicking during feeding, prolonged feeding sessions, or difficulty using the tongue effectively. These concerns can have other causes, so a comprehensive feeding and oral evaluation may be necessary.
Q Can tongue-tie affect bottle-feeding?
Tongue-tie can sometimes affect bottle-feeding because babies use coordinated tongue movements to feed effectively. Difficulty feeding from a bottle does not automatically indicate tongue-tie, however. Other possible causes should be considered.
Q Does every baby with tongue-tie need a frenectomy?
Not every baby with tongue-tie needs a frenectomy. Treatment is generally considered when restricted tongue movement is contributing to meaningful functional difficulties rather than simply because the frenum looks tight.
Q Can tongue-tie affect a child's speech?
Tongue-tie can sometimes restrict movements needed to produce certain speech sounds, but speech difficulties have many possible causes. A speech-language evaluation may help determine whether limited tongue mobility is contributing to a child's particular speech concerns.
Q What is a frenectomy for tongue-tie?
A frenectomy for tongue-tie is a procedure that releases restrictive tissue beneath the tongue. Releasing the lingual frenum can increase the tongue's range of motion when the restriction is interfering with normal function.
Q At what age can a frenectomy be performed?
A frenectomy can be considered at different ages, from infancy through childhood and into adulthood. The appropriate timing depends on the individual's symptoms, degree of restriction, development, and functional needs rather than age alone.
Q Will a frenectomy immediately fix feeding or speech problems?
A frenectomy does not guarantee that feeding or speech problems will immediately resolve because these concerns can involve more than tongue mobility alone. Some patients may benefit from additional support from lactation, feeding, speech, or other healthcare professionals before or after the procedure.
