there are feeding, breathing or sleeping concerns.
Performing a frenectomy is only one aspect of treating tethered oral tissues- we also need to teach the tongue how to move in a new way and release tension in the body. While some may notice an immediate change, usually improvement happens slowly over time when combined with the appropriate therapy.
A tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, is a condition when the frenum under the baby’s tongue is restricted in its ability to move.
A combination of genetic and environmental factors contribute to the occurrence of tongue ties.
The tongue is a unique structure that falls in the scope of practice of both Ear Nose and Throat doctors as well as dentists. Both are licensed to treat tethered oral tissues, but more important is their post-graduate training. Tethered oral tissue diagnosis and treatment is not taught in medical or dental school, so providers must seek additional training to be knowledgeable in this area.
Those performing the procedure are knowledgeable about the anatomy. How babies feed and use their tongue involves specialties like Speech Pathologists, Lactation Consultants, and Occupational Therapists. Both are important in achieving best results.
We utilize state of the art CO2 light scalpel laser technology.
The procedure lasts a few seconds, and your baby will be with our team for a few brief minutes in total.
This varies by patient, as feeding concerns may not surface until later in infancy. Ideally, we see patients during the newborn phase, less than 3 months old. However, we treat babies up to 1 year.
Monday
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM