Benefits of Using a Laser for a Frenectomy

July 2, 2019 Mitten Kids Dentistry

Are you having difficulty with breastfeeding? Has your pediatrician or lactation consultant said your baby has a possible tongue-tie or lip-tie? You may benefit from a consultation with our Grand Rapids pediatric dentists, Dr. Brett or Dr. Grady, to assess the need for a frenectomy on your baby.

A frenum (i.e. frenulum) is a band of tissue that attaches the upper lip to the gums and the tongue to the floor of the mouth.

Sometimes the frenum is too thick or too long, which can prevent proper movement of the upper lip and/or tongue, thus causing difficulties with latching and breastfeeding. A frenectomy is a procedure that revises the frenum to increase the movement of the upper lip and/or tongue.

Benefits of Laser Surgery for a Frenectomy

Not every baby needs both the lip and tongue revised. Oftentimes only the tongue is tied but not the upper lip. Our dentists will do a full evaluation of your baby to assess the anatomy, function, appearance, and movement of the tongue and lip and discuss treatment options, pros, and cons, and determine together with you if a frenectomy would be beneficial.

Although results are never guaranteed, most infants are able to feed with significant improvement immediately. Dr. Brett, Dr. Grady, and Dr. Alex always recommend you and your infant return to your lactation consultant or begin to see one, after treatment to help ensure feeding is going as well as it can, or if other therapies are needed.

Dr. Brett, Dr. Grady, and Dr. Alex are highly trained and certified in laser dentistry through the World Clinical Laser Institute (WCLI), the world’s leader in dental laser education.

Some of the benefits of using a laser for a frenectomy, versus other methods, include:

  • Short treatment time (usually 1-2 minutes)
  • No bleeding
  • No need for sutures, general anesthesia, or sedation
  • Rapid healing and recovery
  • Minimal pain or discomfort
  • Minimal chance for re-attachment
  • Minimally invasive
  • Feeding can be, and is encouraged to be, attempted immediately after the procedure

The treatment is completed in our office. We follow all the safety precautions, ensuring that your baby is very safe and receives the best treatment.

Request an Appointment

Give us a call today at (616) 942-9840 to request an appointment with our Grand Rapids tongue tie dentists. We are always willing and able to provide the treatment the same day as the consultation if you so decide. We here at Mitten Kids Dentistry are thrilled to provide this service to Grand Rapids and the entire West Michigan community.

Related Blog Posts

What to Expect During Tongue Tie Laser Surgery

Benefits of Laser Dentistry for Children’s Oral Health

Laser Tongue-tie Surgery vs. Traditional Surgery

Tongue-Tie Laser Surgery FAQ

This blog post has been updated.

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