Frenectomy

A frenectomy releases the small band of tissue that ties the tongue to the floor of the mouth or the lip to the gum. Pearl32 Dentistry and Wellness in Laguna Hills does this for infants who cannot latch, children with speech trouble, and adults with gum recession or a gap between the front teeth. The procedure itself takes a few minutes under local anesthetic. It is not a cure on its own. Stretches afterward and follow up therapy do the rest.

What is a tongue tie or a lip tie?

A band of tissue that limits movement. The frenum under the tongue, or between the upper lip and the gum, is normal tissue. It becomes a problem only when it is short, thick or attached close to the tongue tip or the gum margin. A tongue tie limits how far the tongue lifts and spreads. A lip tie holds the upper lip tight against the gum. We check the movement, not just the look of the band, because appearance alone decides nothing. Your dentist screens for this at routine visits through our general dentistry care.

When does a tie actually matter?

Only when it is causing a problem, and the problem differs by age. In infants, the sign is feeding: a shallow latch, clicking, long feeds, poor weight gain and nipple pain for the mother. In children, it can be speech sounds that need the tongue tip, such as l, t, d and r, and difficulty clearing food from around the teeth. In adults, we see a gap between the upper front teeth held open by a thick lip frenum, gum recession where the band pulls on the margin, and dentures that get lifted by a tight frenum.

What happens during the procedure?

It takes a few minutes. The area is numbed with local anesthetic. The band is released with fine scissors or a laser, the movement is checked straight away, and a small suture is placed when the release is wide. Infants usually feed right afterward. Adults go back to normal activity the same day.

Bleeding is minimal and stops with pressure. For an anxious child or a nervous adult, nitrous oxide or oral sedation is available. Visits are in Suite 450, reached by elevator, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.

What is the aftercare?

Stretches, several times a day, for three to four weeks. The wound is a diamond shaped area under the tongue or lip, and it wants to close back on itself as it heals. We show you exactly how to lift the tissue, how long to hold it and how often. Miss the stretches for a few days and the release tightens again. Discomfort peaks on day two or three, and acetaminophen with cool food covers it. A white or yellow patch at the site is normal healing, not an infection.

What will a frenectomy not fix on its own?

It releases tissue. It does not teach a new pattern. An infant who has fed with a shallow latch for weeks needs help from a lactation consultant afterward to relearn it. A child with unclear speech needs a speech therapist: the release makes the movement possible, and therapy makes it habit.

In adults, releasing a thick lip frenum stops the pull on a gap between the front teeth, but it does not close the gap. Orthodontics or bonding does that, and the release is timed so the gap stays closed. Recession that has already happened does not grow back, and our periodontics page explains grafting for that.

What does a frenectomy cost?

We do not publish prices. A simple infant release and an adult release with sutures and a follow up are different appointments. Your cost is quoted in writing, itemized, after an examination, and the consultation tells us which one you need.

We are in network with most major PPO plans and Delta Dental HMO, and medical plans sometimes cover infant releases, so we give you the paperwork to submit. Third party financing is available and the practice is not the creditor, through CareCredit, Cherry, Sunbit and Happen Bank (formerly LendingClub). See financing or contact us.

Questions people ask about frenectomy

Is a frenectomy safe for a newborn?

Yes, and it is done in minutes. Infants are held by a parent or an assistant, the area is numbed, and the release is made with scissors or a laser. Most babies cry from being held still rather than from the procedure itself. We ask you to feed right afterward, which comforts the baby and lets us see whether the latch has changed.

Will my child need stitches?

Usually not for a small release. A wider release, or one in an adult, often gets one or two dissolving sutures to control the edges and reduce how much the wound tightens as it heals. Sutures dissolve in seven to ten days. If one comes out early, that is not an emergency. Keep up the stretches and tell us at the review visit.

Does the tie grow back?

The band itself does not regrow, but the wound can tighten as it heals, which feels like the same restriction returning. That is why the stretches matter for three to four weeks. A small number of cases need a second release, usually where stretches were uncomfortable and got skipped. We review you at one week and again at four weeks to check the movement.

Can a tongue tie cause sleep or breathing problems?

It is discussed a lot, and the evidence is mixed. A tongue that cannot rest against the palate is one factor among several in how the airway develops, alongside tonsil size, nasal breathing and jaw growth. We will not tell you a release will fix snoring. If sleep is the concern, we look at the whole picture and refer for a sleep evaluation.

How soon can I eat normally after an adult frenectomy?

The same day, with soft, cool food for 48 hours. Avoid crusty bread, chips and anything acidic while the site is open, because they irritate the wound. Talking and eating are usually comfortable within two or three days. Keep the stretches going even when the site feels tender, because that is the part that decides the result.

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. What is right for you can only be decided after an examination.