Labial Frenectomy

A lingual san rafael frenectomy (tongue-tie release) is a safe and relatively common procedure to correct ankyloglossia or tongue-tie by removing the lingual frenulum that connects the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Tongue-tie is a congenital anomaly that is caused when the frenum (membrane that connects the tongue’s underside to the floor of the mouth) is unusually short. Tongue-tie can vary in severity and can result in an individual having decreased tongue tip mobility, along with a range of other issues, such as diminished oral health, difficulty speaking, and difficulty eating. This can be especially problematic among newborns, who may experience difficulty nursing. The majority of these issues can be corrected or significantly improved by performing a lingual frenectomy, using either a scalpel or laser.

Common Issues Attributed to Ankyloglossia

• Infant feeding: Difficulty nursing is one of the biggest concerns for infants who are born with ankyloglossia. This can include difficulty latching or staying latched, intense nipple pain that can result in the mother stopping nursing, and weight loss or failure to thrive. While ankyloglossia has been shown to negatively impact an infant’s ability to nurse, they appear to have much less difficulty when feeding from a bottle. Mothers with infants who experience difficulty while nursing due to ankyloglossia tend to notice an immediate improvement following the lingual frenectomy.
• Speech: Difficulty speaking is another common consequence of untreated ankyloglossia, with lingual sounds such as “r” and sibilants being the most commonly affected. Although ankyloglossia can impact a child’s ability to enunciate, research indicates that it does not cause any delay in language or speech. Overall, most children who struggle with speech difficulties due to ankyloglossia have improved articulation following a lingual frenectomy.
• Mechanical/Social Effects: Common issues cited by individuals who have lingual-frenum issues include significantly reduced tongue movement and difficulty performing other mechanical functions, such as licking an ice cream cone or one’s lips, kissing, or playing woodwind instruments, as well as discomfort or cuts under the tongue. As a result of these issues, many individuals also expressed experiencing negative social effects, such as teasing or feelings of embarrassment.
• Mouth breathing and uncomfortable tongue posture: The ideal posture for the tongue to rest is at the roof of the mouth, as doing so enables nasal breath. For patients with ankyloglossia, this natural resting posture is inhibited, which can result in mouth-breathing, which is correlated with health issues such as sleep-disordered breathing, chronic ear infections, and enlarged adenoids and tonsils.
• Dental issues: There is a correlation between TMJ pain, bruxism and ankyloglossia, due to the tongue creating a narrow V shaped palate instead of the ideal U shape. This in turn can cause tooth crowding and increase an individual’s risk of needing braces and/or jaw surgery.
• Fascia/Muscle Compensation: When the tongue is constantly restricted, other muscles in the jaw and neck may be forced to compensate, which can result in additional issues to develop, such as poor posture and/or muscle tightness.

More on Frenulectomy : Infant Frenectomy