Tongue Tie Frenectomy
LIBERATE THE TONGUE!
A tongue tie frenectomy using a CO2 laser is safer and heals faster than traditional surgery, taking only 10-20 minutes in our Coral Gables / Miami office.
TONGUE TIES UPPER-LIP TIES THE LASER
For more information go to the Frenectomy page.
What is a tongue tie?
What is an upper-lip
Why use the Light
There is a band of tissue that connects the tongue with the floor of the mouth called a frenum. It is normal -- everyone has one. However, if a frenum is too tight, it keeps the tongue from moving normally. In this case, it is called a tongue tie. Releasing a too-tight frenum is called a frenectomy.
Infants with tongue and lip ties can have problems with breastfeeding, extended feeding time, falling asleep during feedings, reflux and gas. Mothers of tongue-tied infants can experience painful breastfeeding.
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Children can have speech, and dental problems as well as continued reflux.
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Adults can have reflux, problems with speech, snoring, headaches, posture and sleep apnea. This blog give a great description of physiology and symptoms: http://www.paragonhealth.net.au/blog/tongue-tie-in-adults
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Older Adults with tight frenums can have difficulty keeping dentures in place.
Why do frenectomies?
When the frenum that attaches the upper lip to the gums is too tight, it keeps the baby from being able to flange or curl the lip upwards and outwards to form a seal around the breast. An inefective seal leads to swallowing excess air.
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It can cause retention of breast milk or formula under the lip which will lead to decay of the teeth when they erupt.
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When the teeth erupt it can keep the two front teeth from moving completely together leaving a space.
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Upper-lip ties commonly occur in infants that also have a tongue tie so we usually release both the tongue and upper lip at the same time.
There are many ways to perform a frenectomy. We prefer using the Light Scalpel CO2 laser.
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The benefits of using a CO2 laser for soft tissue procedures such as frenectomies are many:
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Minimal bleeding
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Minimal discomfort
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No sutures
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No hospital visit
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No general anesthesia
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Faster healing
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Safe -- it only cuts nanometers deep
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No need for antibiotics
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Can be done on infants as young as two days old
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Maximum precision and control for the doctor.
tie?
Scalpel Laser?
Dr. Leslie Haller doing a frenectomy at her old office in Lauderhill. She has since moved to Coral Gables, and continues to do frenectomies on infants as young as 2 days old all the way up to adults who have had head and neck pain their entire lives without knowing that a tongue tie was the problem. Please note that consultations are no longer free.
Dr. Haller doing a lingual frenectomy on a 17-year-old young man with speech problems.