Pediatric frenectomy is a gentle procedure that corrects tongue-tie or lip-tie to improve feeding, speech development, and oral function. Early treatment can help your child eat, speak, and smile with greater comfort and confidence.
At All Kids Pediatric Dentistry in Monroe, NC, we provide safe, precise frenectomy treatment in a caring, kid-friendly environment. We accept most insurance plans and offer a dental savings plan to help make specialized pediatric care affordable for families in our community.
When your child’s smile, speech, or feeding patterns aren’t developing as they should, the cause might be hidden beneath the surface. A restrictive frenum, or a small band of tissue that connects the tongue or lip to the nearby tissue, can create challenges that affect everything from nursing to pronunciation. A pediatric frenectomy offers a gentle solution, helping your child thrive without limitations.
All Kids Pediatric Dentistry has been making a difference in children’s oral health since 2014, proudly serving Monroe, Indian Trail, Charlotte, Plaza Midwood, and the surrounding areas of Southwest Charlotte. Our multilingual team connects with families in Spanish and Russian to ensure every parent feels informed and comfortable with their child’s care.
Gentle, comprehensive dental care for children with flexible payment options for growing families.
A frenectomy is a straightforward procedure that removes or modifies a restrictive frenum, which is a small band of tissue in the mouth connecting areas such as the tongue or lips to the surrounding tissue. There are two primary types: lingual frenectomies address tongue ties, while labial frenectomies correct lip ties. When these tissues are too short or thick, they can limit your child’s range of motion and create functional difficulties.
Understanding when intervention may help is important. Children may benefit from this treatment if they encounter:
Some individuals may have gaps between their front teeth due to a thick upper frenum, while others struggle with tongue mobility, affecting their ability to eat or speak clearly.
Recognizing the signs early helps families address these issues before they impact development. Parents of infants may notice their baby struggles with breastfeeding, makes clicking sounds during nursing, or has difficulty latching properly.
As children grow, speech challenges may emerge. Some children develop difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, such as “t,” “d,” “l,” or “th.” You might observe your child’s tongue forming a heart shape when extended, or notice they cannot touch the roof of their mouth with their tongue tip.
Physical signs include a visible band of tissue tightly connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth (indicating a tongue-tie) or the upper lip to the gums (suggesting a lip-tie). Older children may develop a gap between their two front teeth.
Our approach prioritizes comfort and efficiency. The procedure typically takes only a few minutes and can often be completed using local anesthesia to numb the area. For younger children or those who feel anxious, we offer sedation dentistry options, including nitrous oxide, to help them feel relaxed throughout the visit.
During the frenectomy, our team carefully releases the restrictive tissue. Modern techniques minimize discomfort and support rapid healing. The few nerve endings in this tissue mean most children experience little discomfort. Many babies return to nursing immediately, and older children resume normal activities soon after. Frenectomy refers specifically to the removal or alteration of the tight band of tissue that causes restriction.
The benefits of addressing tongue and lip ties extend well beyond the immediate procedure. For infants, improved mobility can transform feeding experiences, allowing them to latch more effectively and nurse more efficiently. This often helps babies gain weight at an appropriate rate.
As children grow, releasing restrictions aids in speech development, improves oral hygiene, and supports proper dental spacing by removing tissue that might otherwise create gaps or lead to orthodontic concerns.
Most children experience mild soreness that resolves within a few days. We provide detailed aftercare instructions, including gentle stretching exercises to prevent the tissue from reattaching as it heals. These exercises take only seconds to complete and play a vital role in successful outcomes.
Your child can usually return to regular activities the next day. Infants often resume nursing immediately, though some may need a brief adjustment period. We suggest soft foods for a day or two and recommend gentle preventive care around the treatment site.
A pediatric frenectomy can open new possibilities for your child. These include easier feeding, clearer speech, and better oral health. Our team understands that every child is unique and evaluates whether this procedure would be beneficial for your child. We have served families with compassionate care throughout Monroe.
Don’t let restrictive oral tissues hold your child back from thriving. Contact our Arrowood office at (980) 263-2330, our Plaza Midwood location at (980) 425-3100, or our Indian Trail office at (704) 684-4451 to schedule your consultation. You can also book your appointment online at your convenience.
Treatment can start in infancy if feeding challenges arise. Children of any age can benefit from this procedure if restrictions affect their development, speech, or oral health.
Some older children benefit from speech therapy. It helps them learn to use increased tongue mobility. Our team recommends resources specific to your child’s needs.
Coverage varies by insurance plan. We accept almost all insurance providers and work closely with families to maximize benefits. If you have no coverage, we offer in-house payment plans to make treatment accessible.
Please use the form below to schedule your appointment with us. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can schedule through our online chat or by calling or texting the office.
Please use the form below to schedule your appointment with us. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can schedule through our online chat or by calling or texting the office.