The lingual frenum is a sheet of mucus membrane located under the tongue. If you lift your tongue, you’re able to see it. This frenum acts as an anchor and stabilizer for the tongue and is important for various functions, such as nursing, eating, swallowing, speaking, breathing, and sleeping.
Your child also has two labial frenums, one on the lower lip and a more pronounced one on the upper lip. If you pull your lip away from your gum tissue, you’ll be able to see the band of tissue connecting the lips to the gums. Typically, labial frenums — particularly the maxillary (upper) labial frenum — are more pronounced in younger children.
The function of the labial frenums is to stabilize the upper and lower lips. We also provide additional pediatric dental services in our Worcester, MA, office.
What Are Tongue-Tie and Lip-Tie?
Tongue and lip-tie occur when the lingual or labial frenum restricts the tongue or lips. Tongue-tie and lip-tie can cause many problems for our younger patients if they restrict lip and tongue movement, including:
- Problems breastfeeding
- Sleep disorders
- Speech impediments
A short lingual frenum inhibits tongue movement, making it difficult for children to speak clearly, chew, and swallow. Tongue ties can also lead to sleep disorders in some children.
Learn More About Tongue and Lip-Tie
BabyLase for Tongue-Tie and Lip-Tie
We recommend non-surgical treatment for infants and toddlers to release the lips or tongue. Also known as BabyLase, laser treatment for tongue-tie and lip-tie cuts the frenum and releases the tissue. Frenectomy treatments that use dental lasers come with many advantages:
- Less bleeding
- Minimal post-operative inflammation
- Quicker healing and recovery
Our goal is to make your child as comfortable as possible and reduce dental anxiety. At Children’s Dental Specialties, we know the best way to do this is to make every experience in the dental office as pleasant as possible.
That’s why we use minimally invasive procedures and modern technology. Such advancements make every dental procedure — including surgical procedures — more comfortable, so your child experiences less discomfort during and after their appointment.
Our dentist will perform a functional assessment to determine whether or not your child will require a surgical approach to address tongue and lip ties. Read about our non-surgical revision below.
Learn More About BabyLase
Contact Our Worcester Dental Office
Call Children’s Dental Specialties for comfortable laser treatment today at (508) 625-5534. Our knowledgeable pediatric team can expertly assess your child’s case and determine whether laser treatment can help.