Release of a tight tongue or lip tie that limits movement, causes a gap between front teeth or pulls on the gum. Quick, under local anesthetic.
A frenum is the small fold of tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth, or the lips to the gums. Everyone has them. When a frenum is unusually short, thick or tight, it can restrict movement or pull on the gum. This is often called a tongue tie (ankyloglossia) or a lip tie. A frenectomy, sometimes called a frenotomy or frenuloplasty depending on the technique, releases or reshapes that tissue.
When a frenectomy helps
Many frenums look prominent but cause no trouble, and no treatment is needed. A release may be recommended when a tie is causing a real problem, such as:
- Speech. Difficulty with certain sounds, when a speech-language pathologist believes tongue movement is a factor.
- Orthodontics. A thick upper lip frenum that keeps a gap open between the front teeth after braces close it.
- Gum recession. A frenum that pulls on the gum and contributes to recession on the lower front teeth.
- Dentures. A frenum that interferes with how a denture sits.
- Function and comfort. Restricted tongue movement that affects eating, cleaning the teeth, or comfort, confirmed on examination.
For infants with feeding difficulties, the decision is best made with your pediatrician and a lactation consultant, because feeding problems have many possible causes. We evaluate infants on referral and treat only when the assessment supports it.
How it's done
Your surgeon examines how the tongue or lip moves and, where it is relevant, coordinates with your orthodontist, speech-language pathologist or myofunctional therapist. The best results for tongue ties usually come when the release is paired with exercises before and after.
The procedure itself is brief, typically 15 to 30 minutes. The area is numbed with local anesthetic, and nitrous oxide can help nervous children and adults relax. Your surgeon releases the tissue with a scalpel or a dental laser and usually places a few dissolving stitches. Older children and adults can go back to school or work the same day or the next.
Recovery
The area is usually tender for a few days and looks white or yellowish as it heals, which is normal. Soft foods and over-the-counter pain relief help. For tongue ties, gentle stretching exercises in the weeks afterward keep the tissue from reattaching as tightly. Your surgeon or therapist will show you exactly how. Most sites heal within one to two weeks.
As with all Molly care, you'll receive one written quote first, and we'll check your dental and medical benefits.
