In your mouth, there is a soft band of tissue that connects your lips, cheek, and tongue to your jaw bone. This tissue is called your frenum, and sometimes patients are born with a “thick” frenum, which can prevent your mouth from functioning normally. This thicker band of tissue is usually found above your two front teeth or under the tongue.
What is tongue-tie?
When the frenum underneath the tongue is thicker than normal, it restricts the movement of the tongue, which causes difficulty when speaking. Symptoms of tongue-tie include:
- The tongue is unable to reach beyond the lips
- The tongue cannot reach the roof of the mouth
- The tongue cannot move side to side
- The tongue may have a different shape (flat, square, heart-shaped)
If you’re experiencing some of these symptoms, we at Haid Dental can help resolve these symptoms with a frenectomy.
What is a frenectomy?
A frenectomy is a procedure where the excess frenum is removed to restore it to normal functioning. There are two types of frenectomy: a labial frenectomy and lingual frenectomy. A labial frenectomy removes the excess frenum from above the two front teeth and a lingual frenectomy removes the excess frenum from underneath the tongue. Both of these procedures use a laser and are extremely accurate. This process is gentle, non-invasive, suture-free, and relatively painless. Your recovery will be quick following this procedure.
If you believe you or your child may need a frenectomy, call us today to set an appointment to discuss your options. We at Haid Dental want to do all we can to restore normal functioning to your mouth. Give us a call in Dublin at 614-889-7661 or in Worthington at 614-885-2610.
