You finally have a diagnosis! After weeks of struggling to breastfeed your child or trying to determine why they can't pronounce certain sounds correctly, their doctor determined that they have a lip or tongue tie. They recommend a frenectomy to remove the excess tissue and correct the lingual/labial frenulum.
Being told that your child needs a surgical procedure might sound scary. But frenectomies are generally simple and pain-free procedures. You will have to pay special attention to the aftercare process to ensure your child is healing properly.
So, here's what to expect during the frenectomy procedure and what to do after it.
If your child needs a frenectomy, it means that their frenulum, a thin strip of tissue that connects the lips or tongue to the gums or inner lining of the mouth, is too short. During the frenectomy procedure, the pediatric dentist surgically removes that tissue to enable the tongue or lip to move correctly.
At Memorial Children's Dentistry, we use Lightscalpel CO2 laser to correct lip and tongue ties. The entire frenectomy procedure will only take a few minutes, and it's pain-free. In most cases, we don't even need to numb the area as your child will be in and out of Dr. Hanna's chair in less than 15 minutes.
While the procedure in itself is very short and simple, you need to take certain precautions to ensure your child heals properly. That usually means restricting certain foods, such as hard, crunchy, or chewy items. Make sure to eat soft foods after frenectomy.
As your child's mouth begins to heal, you can gradually introduce more solid foods into their diet. However, it is still important to avoid hard, crunchy, or chewy foods that could potentially irritate the treated area. Some safe options for the first few weeks after a frenectomy include:
It is also important to encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids after a frenectomy, as this can help to keep them hydrated and promote healing. Water, juice, and broth are all good options.
As your child's mouth continues to heal, you can gradually introduce more solid foods back into their diet.
While frenectomies are simple and safe, it's always good to know that an experienced dentist will perform them in a calm and child-friendly environment. And that's precisely what you will get at Memorial Children’s Dentistry.
If you want to determine if your child has a frenectomy or schedule them for the procedure, get in touch with us now.
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