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Tongue and Lip Tie Treatment (Frenectomy)

A tongue or lip tie is a fairly common condition in which the frenulum (the tissue that connects the lip to the gums and the tongue to the front of the mouth) is too short or tight. An untreated lip or tongue tie can affect you and your child in several ways:

• Difficulty breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Babies with tongue or lip ties may have difficulty latching onto the breast or bottle and may not be able to get enough milk, leading to weight gain issues. Mothers of babies with tongue or lip ties may also experience pain and soreness during breastfeeding.
• Difficulty swallowing. Babies with ties may have difficulty swallowing, which can lead to choking or gagging.
• Difficulty speaking. Children with ties may have difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, such as "t," "d," "z," "s," "th," "r" and "l."
• Difficulty eating solid foods. Children with ties may have difficulty eating solid foods, especially those that are sticky or require a lot of chewing.
• Gum disease. Tongue or lip ties can make it difficult to clean the teeth and gums, which can lead to gum disease.
• Malocclusion. Tongue or lip ties can contribute to malocclusion, a misalignment of the teeth.
• Sleep apnea. Ties can increase the risk of sleep apnea, a dangerous condition in which breathing is interrupted during sleep.

How is a tongue or lip tie diagnosed? 

You may not be able to tell if your child has a tongue or lip tie by simply looking at it. A diagnosis is based on how the tongue and lip move as well as the child’s symptoms. Tongues and lips are only considered to be “tied” if mobility and function are restricted. Not all ties cause problems and require correction, and each child should be assessed on an individual basis.

How can we help?

The treatment for a tongue or lip tie is a minor surgical procedure called a frenectomy. This short procedure typically takes only a few minutes. Dr. Amy Augustine, our Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, has specialized training in frenectomies and uses a carbon dioxide laser to release the tissue. This state of the art laser allows for the procedure to be completed quickly with minimal to no bleeding or scarring. 

When is the best time for treatment?

The best time to get a frenectomy is when the problem is first identified. Babies are generally the best candidates for frenectomies, as their tissues are more elastic and heal more quickly. For older children and adults, the best time will depend on the specific problem being treated. 
Early treatment can help to prevent or reduce the severity of any problems caused by the tongue or lip tie. It can also help to prevent long-term problems, such as dental malocclusion and sleep apnea. 

If you think your child may have a tongue or lip tie, give us a call. We can help determine if a frenectomy is recommended.

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Patient Testimonial

"I can't say enough positive things about Dr. Amy and her staff! I contacted the office after having difficulty nursing our 10-week-old daughter, Briar. We were able to immediately schedule an appointment for the following week. Neither our pediatrician or lactation consultant were concerned with a tongue or lip tie for our little one, but Dr. Amy confirmed both right away and was able to correct them within only a few minutes.

​Dr. Amy made us comfortable with the procedure. She was very confident and reassuring. She was well organized and attentive. It is very obvious that she is an expert in her field.

​The exercises were key to maintaining the success of the procedure. A little less than 2 weeks out and our daughter is latching better with both breast and bottle and is actually getting satisfied after nursing. After the surgery, our daughter has experienced less hiccups and less gas. This procedure has definitely changed our lives and we have a happier baby."

-Tiffaney G.

"She was more interactive with us and was finally acting like a normal baby." - Emily H.

​​"I called Dr. Amy after struggling for weeks with my newborn. My daughter was in the NICU for 19 days, 15 of those days she was being held for her inability to eat. She was mostly tube fed, but she eventually got strong enough to work a bottle enough to leave. She was discharged with a diagnosis of "feeding/swallowing disorder".

After a week of being home and working really hard with her, she still wasn't improving. After exploring her mouth to try to figure out exactly why she wasn't sucking, I discovered a lot of tension under her tongue. Once I called, Dr. Amy worked to see us as soon as she possibly could. At evaluation she found both tongue and lip ties, so we continued with the procedure immediately.

That day, she was quite tired and had to relearn how to swallow. With rest and a couple doses of Tylenol my baby not only began to eat normally and quickly at the bottle but transitioned to breast seamlessly. After just a couple days she was more interactive with us and was finally acting like a normal baby; whereas before eating took every ounce of energy either of us had.

Dr. Amy changed our lives! Today my daughter is thriving. Dr. Amy was patient, gentle, explained everything well, and genuinely cared for us. She encouraged me with the stretches and to establish a care team post procedure. She also followed up with us to make sure we were doing well and was available for questions and concerns."   - Emily H.

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Amy Augustine, DDS, MS

Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist - Napoleon, OH

​Dr. Amy Augustine, known as Dr. Amy to her pediatric patients, is a board-certified pediatric dentist specializing in dental care for infants, toddlers, school-age children, and adolescents. In addition to years of pediatric-specific dental training, she has expertise in behavior guidance and a gift to communicate with children in an effective, gentle, and non-threatening manner.
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Dr. Augustine loves working with children and finds it incredibly rewarding to watch kids change their demeanor from being scared to be at the dentist, to feeling happy and proud of themselves by the end of the appointment. She uses several methods of behavior guidance, including tell-show-do and positive reinforcement. Parents are often surprised at how well their children can do with the right approach.
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5-STAR RATING - BASED ON OVER 2,230 PATIENT REVIEWS

"We met with Dr. Amy for our youngest adopted daughter who has typically struggled at the dentist due to a history of trauma and lack of dental care. She and I usually leave in tears because it's such a traumatic experience. For the first time, our little girl was SO cooperative and we didn't have to do a knee to knee cleaning as I hold her down in tears. Dr. Amy sang while she brushed and polished and was such a dream for our little girl. I could not be happier with our experience!" -Lindsay M. 

I just took my one and a half-year-old daughter to Dental Excellence in Napoleon. The dental hygienist was so sweet and understanding of my daughter's nervousness. She took her time and made both of us feel comfortable. I would highly recommend the pediatric dentistry at Dental Excellence." -Elizabeth W.

"I never thought I would hear my kids talk so excitedly about going to the dentist. They can't wait to wear their t-shirts the next time they go and earn a prize!" -Rebecca S.

"They did an awesome job with my son on his first dental visit! They made him very comfortable and let him explore a little bit. He was very excited to tell his daddy all about it!" -Vanancio P.

"My son has been going here for several years now. Each visit is awesome with him. He loves the dentist but sometimes his anxiety can get in the way. They never make him feel like he's acting horrible. They always explain things to him as he goes and does good at calming him down when needed. He always feels special when he leaves!" -Shawna S.

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