Tongue and lip-ties are common conditions that can affect children from birth, often initially leading to challenges with breastfeeding and/or bottle feeding. As children grow, these restrictive tissues may contribute to issues such as difficulty transitioning to solid foods, delayed or altered speech development, improper breathing, swallowing difficulties, dental decay, and/or dental crowding. These restrictive tissues do not go away over time, rather patients learn to compensate to mask their symptoms. Without treatment, the adverse effects of tongue and lip ties can follow a child into adolescents and adulthood, potentially causing headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and sleep disturbances. Addressing these ties early may prevent future complications and improve overall health.
If you suspect that your child has a tongue tie or lip-tie, contact our Atlantic Boulevard office to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Paul Lambert. Meet The Doctors – Weaver And Stratton Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics With over 7 years of evaluating and treating tethered oral tissues, Dr. Paul ensures a precise procedure that promotes faster healing and recovery. Dr. Paul will walk you through each step of the procedure, explain aftercare instructions, and partner with you to deliver the highest level of care. Call Dr. Paul today!
Frenectomy Procedures
A frenectomy is a quick, in-office procedure performed with a state-of-the-art CO2 LightScalpel laser that releases restrictive oral tissues, enabling your child’s tongue and/or lips to move freely.
CO2 Laser FAQs
The CO2 LightScalpel laser is a highly advanced surgical laser that uses carbon dioxide (CO2) to produce a concentrated beam of light energy. This energy is absorbed by water molecules in the soft tissue, allowing precise cutting and vaporization of tissue with minimal impact on surrounding areas. Unlike traditional surgical tools, it simultaneously cuts and coagulates, which reduces bleeding and minimizes tissue trauma. It is widely recognized for its efficacy in oral surgeries, including tongue tie and lip-tie release (frenectomy) procedures.
Compared to conventional surgical methods like scissors, scalpels, or diode lasers, the CO2 LightScalpel laser offers several key advantages and is the gold standard for frenectomy procedures for infants. Here’s why:
- Precision: The laser enables unmatched accuracy in targeting the exact tissue to be released, preserving surrounding healthy tissue.
- Reduced Pain: The laser’s ability to seal nerve endings and blood vessels during the procedure minimizes pain during and after surgery.
- Minimal Bleeding: Its simultaneous cutting and coagulation properties reduce intraoperative bleeding, providing a cleaner surgical field.
- Faster Procedure: The enhanced control can often reduce the need for sutures, making the process quicker for both the patient and practitioner.
- Lower Risk of Infection: The laser sterilizes as it cuts, reducing the likelihood of post-procedure infections.
he LightScalpel laser uses a specific wavelength of CO2 light energy (10,600 nm) that is highly absorbed by water molecules in soft tissue. When directed at the tissue:
- Cutting Action: The energy vaporizes the water in the cells, effectively cutting through tissue with unparalleled precision.
- Coagulation: Simultaneously, the laser seals blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerve endings, significantly reducing bleeding, swelling, and pain.
- Sterilization: The heat from the laser sterilizes the surgical site, reducing the risk of infection.
The LightScalpel laser significantly improves healing time due to its tissue-sparing and precision capabilities:
- Minimal Trauma: Because the laser minimizes collateral damage to surrounding tissue, the body experiences less inflammation, speeding up the recovery process.
- Reduced Swelling: By sealing lymphatic vessels, the laser prevents excess fluid buildup, leading to less post-operative swelling.
- Less Scarring: The controlled energy minimizes tissue tearing or excessive cell damage, reducing the likelihood of noticeable scarring.
- Comfortable Healing: With sealed nerve endings, post-operative discomfort is lower, allowing patients (even infants) to resume normal feeding or other activities quickly.
- Lower Risk of Complications: The sterilizing effect of the laser decreases the chance of infections, contributing to smoother recovery.
Why should I choose a frenectomy for my child?
Infants with tongue and lip-ties may:
- Have difficulty nursing or is painful for mom
- Have difficulty taking a bottle
- Drip milk out of their mouth when eating
- Have trouble gaining weight
- Click their tongue or smack their lips when eating
- Be continually fussy, have gas or acid reflux
Older children with tongue and lip-ties may:
- Have trouble sleeping
- Experience a strong gag reflex
- Have delayed speech and articulating sounds
- Speak softer than average or difficulty being understood
- Choke when eating or drinking
- Have food or texture issues
- Be a picky eater or eat their food slowly
- Sleep with their mouth open, snore, and/or grind their teeth
The CO2 LightScalpel laser is a highly advanced surgical laser that uses carbon dioxide (CO2) to produce a concentrated beam of light energy. This energy is absorbed by water molecules in the soft tissue, allowing precise cutting and vaporization of tissue with minimal impact on surrounding areas. Unlike traditional surgical tools, it simultaneously cuts and coagulates, which reduces bleeding and minimizes tissue trauma. It is widely recognized for its efficacy in oral surgeries, including tongue tie and lip-tie release (frenectomy) procedures.
Compared to conventional surgical methods like scissors, scalpels, or diode lasers, the CO2 LightScalpel laser offers several key advantages and is the gold standard for frenectomy procedures for infants. Here’s why:
- Precision: The laser enables unmatched accuracy in targeting the exact tissue to be released, preserving surrounding healthy tissue.
- Reduced Pain: The laser’s ability to seal nerve endings and blood vessels during the procedure minimizes pain during and after surgery.
- Minimal Bleeding: Its simultaneous cutting and coagulation properties reduce intraoperative bleeding, providing a cleaner surgical field.
- Faster Procedure: The enhanced control can often reduce the need for sutures, making the process quicker for both the patient and practitioner.
- Lower Risk of Infection: The laser sterilizes as it cuts, reducing the likelihood of post-procedure infections.
The LightScalpel laser uses a specific wavelength of CO2 light energy (10,600 nm) that is highly absorbed by water molecules in soft tissue. When directed at the tissue:
- Cutting Action: The energy vaporizes the water in the cells, effectively cutting through tissue with unparalleled precision.
- Coagulation: Simultaneously, the laser seals blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerve endings, significantly reducing bleeding, swelling, and pain.
- Sterilization: The heat from the laser sterilizes the surgical site, reducing the risk of infection.
The LightScalpel laser significantly improves healing time due to its tissue-sparing and precision capabilities:
- Minimal Trauma: Because the laser minimizes collateral damage to surrounding tissue, the body experiences less inflammation, speeding up the recovery process.
- Reduced Swelling: By sealing lymphatic vessels, the laser prevents excess fluid buildup, leading to less post-operative swelling.
- Less Scarring: The controlled energy minimizes tissue tearing or excessive cell damage, reducing the likelihood of noticeable scarring.
- Comfortable Healing: With sealed nerve endings, post-operative discomfort is lower, allowing patients (even infants) to resume normal feeding or other activities quickly.
- Lower Risk of Complications: The sterilizing effect of the laser decreases the chance of infections, contributing to smoother recovery.