What is a Frenotomy?
What To Know About Frenotomy
If you suspect your child has tongue-tie, get aid and guidance from your dentist in Lexington KY. Before prescribing the best course of action, Dr. Kim, the best dentist in Lexington KY, will undertake a physical exam to determine what is wrong. Dentists may choose to postpone treatment at times. This is due to the possibility that the issue may not produce any complications or that the lingual frenum will release. Below, we answer, “What is a Frenotomy?”
Tongue-Tied
First, our dentist Lexington KY shares that frenulums can be found in many areas of the mouth. The lingual frenum is the frenulum that is positioned under the tongue. A lingual frenum can sometimes hinder oral function. This results in tongue-tie, a condition in which the mobility of the language is limited. This happens when the lingual frenulum is too short, too tight, or too close to the tongue tip.
Problems
This condition may not be a big issue for some people. However, it can cause problems for others. Some people have difficulties licking their lips or raising the tip of their tongue into their mouth. As a result, kids may have trouble speaking and eating. People frequently have difficulty pronouncing some letters of the alphabet.
Tongue-tie is most common in infants. The illness can impair a baby’s ability to breastfeed and, in rare cases, bottle-feed. In addition, a newborn may not consume enough fluids to acquire weight. The lingual frenulum can relax and detach from the tongue on its own at times. However, in some circumstances, it may be necessary to split it. This may entail the frenectomy operation, which aids in releasing the tongue. If you suspect this, search for a dentist near me to assist.
Frenectomy
A frenectomy is a surgical treatment that aids in the removal of the lingual frenum. As a result, only the most severe cases of tongue-tie are split. If the baby is under three months old, the surgery can be done using topical or local anesthetic. It is occasionally performed under general anesthesia.
The region must be numbed if topical or local anesthetic is employed. The baby’s head will next be tightly kept in place before the frenum is severed using either a laser or surgical scissors. Babies can nurse immediately following the operation. This technique has minor risks and complications. Tongue mobility is usually restored within a few months following the procedure.
Before the operation, older children and adults may be given local or general anesthesia. When the tongue-tie has been surgically separated, stitches are necessary. After a few weeks, the mouth usually recovers. Our friends over at Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry, a pediatric dentist in SLC, share that adults and older children may require speech therapy following the operation. The main danger of a frenectomy is the use of anesthesia. As with any operation, there is a risk of infection, bleeding, and injury to the tongue or surrounding tissues.
Takeaway
Tongue-tie can cause nursing issues as well as difficulties speaking and eating. The lingual frenum may need to be clipped on occasion. This can be accomplished with a frenectomy, which is a surgical surgery that divides it. The laser or surgical scissors are used in the process. A frenectomy is typically effective and can help to prevent dental, speech, and feeding difficulties. If you observe any indications of tongue-tie in your kid, you should consult your general dentist.
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