3 Questions to Ask Before a Frenectomy

Is your child being recommended for a lip and tongue-tie treatment in Phillipsburg? If so, it’s natural to have many questions and concerns. After all, it doesn’t matter the age of your child, you are likely worried about the procedure, the risks involved, the recovery, and how it will impact and benefit them. Having all the information you need before agreeing to move forward with treatment is essential, which is why this article includes three questions you should ask when meeting with a lip and tongue-tie specialist about a proposed frenectomy.

Is a Laser Better Than Traditional Scissors?

More and more dentists are turning to soft tissue lasers to perform frenectomies. Although the use of traditional scissors and sutures is highly effective, it often produces more bleeding, swelling, and longer recovery. With the use of a laser, however, it cauterizes the tissues as it lacerates, which means there is significantly less bleeding involved, and the risk for infection is reduced.

Also, the use of a soft tissue laser offers optimal precision and accuracy and allows for a much quicker procedure. This is extremely helpful when performing a frenectomy on infants.

Will My Child Feel Pain During a Frenectomy?

During frenectomy treatment in Phillipsburg, you can expect your child to remain comfortable. The specialist will apply a topical anesthetic to numb the area before starting the procedure. Once the soft tissue laser is turned on, your child will feel no heat or vibration, and they will hear no strange or scary sounds. Instead, it will remain quiet so your little one will remain calm and relaxed.

What is Expected After the Procedure?

If your infant is undergoing a frenectomy, you’ll be encouraged to immediately start breastfeeding. Although you will likely notice a positive difference in their ability to latch, it will still take a bit of time before the full oral function is obtained.

In the days and weeks following your child’s procedure, you’ll need to perform various stretching exercises to prevent the banded tissue from fusing into place once again. You’ll also need to keep any follow-up appointments with your child’s specialist to ensure everything is healing correctly and no additional problems are developing. Over time, your child will begin to experience a full range of motion that makes breastfeeding or taking a bottle much easier.

A frenectomy may sound scary at first, but once you begin to understand the process and how quick the procedure is, it’s easy to understand why many patients have such positive results. If you ever have questions or concerns about a procedure your child is recommended for, do not hesitate to contact their dentist or local specialist for answers.

About the Author
Dr. Garcia-DeMartino is a lip and tongue-tie specialist based in Phillipsburg. Seeing a common trend of lip and tongue-ties developing in infants and parents struggling, she underwent extensive training to begin treating these problems. Attending the International World Clinical Laser Institute, she became an expert in the use of soft tissue and hard tissue lasers. Now, she proudly helps parents and treats young patients suffering from the effects of lip and tongue ties. If your child is experiencing problems because of their restricted tissues, visit our website or call (908) 859-5260.