When Should My Baby Undergo a Frenectomy?

Learning your baby has a lip or tongue-tie can be unsettling, especially if you are unsure about the process that’s required to treat it. Helping your little one have a wider range of oral movement is important, especially when it comes to feeding. But when is it the right time for your infant to receive a frenectomy? Keep reading to hear from a trusted expert who can explain.

How Soon After Birth Can a Baby Receive a Frenectomy?

Generally, most tongue-tie experts suggest that babies undergo a frenectomy before they reach the age of one. If you notice that your little one is struggling to bottle-feed or nurse, it’s possible for them to receive treatment much sooner. What you want to remember is that the earlier their lip or tongue-tie is addressed, the sooner you can expect to see positive results.

What is the Process for a Frenectomy?

When bringing your child in for a frenectomy, you can expect the doctor to provide clear instructions. In most cases, only a topical anesthetic is needed, which means that your baby will feel no pain throughout the process.

Using a dental laser to quickly release the tissue, its concentrated beam of light accurately targets the lip or tongue-tie, cauterizing it while it cuts. This reduces the chances of bleeding and swelling, and it sterilizes the area so the risk of infection remains low.

By opting for a laser frenectomy as opposed to a traditional one with scalpels and sutures, your baby will recover much faster at home, which is a win-win for everyone.

How Long Will It Take for My Baby to Heal?

After the frenectomy is complete, you can expect your baby to be fully healed within a few weeks. It’s recommended that parents immediately begin to nurse or bottle-feed once the procedure is finished, as it is a great way to help soothe your little one.

If improvements are not noticeable right away, it may take 3-4 weeks before your baby becomes accustomed to their new range of motion. Performing certain stretches not only prevents the tie from reforming but also helps your little one to move their tongue and/or lip more freely.

Your doctor will go over the various stretches you can perform at home. Since your baby’s mouth will heal quickly, it’s important to practice these movements daily to avoid any possible re-bonding of the tissues.

If your child becomes fussy during these exercises, you can use age-appropriate pain medication as well as nursing or bottle-feeding to help soothe them.

Allowing your baby to undergo a frenectomy early on is one of the best ways to ensure fewer problems in the future. With a greater range of oral motion, their feeding habits will drastically improve over time, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the bonding experience between you and your little bundle of joy.

About the Author
Dr. Garcia-DeMartino is a lip and tongue-tie expert based in Phillipsburg. Attending the International World Clinical Laser Institute, she became an authority in the use of soft tissue and hard tissue lasers. Now, she proudly helps patients of all ages suffering from the effects of lip and tongue-ties. If you have a baby with a lip or tongue-tie, and you want to make nursing or bottle-feeding an easier and more enjoyable experience for you and your little one, visit our website or call (908) 859-5260.