Infant Frenectomy Treatment Clinic in Mishawaka, IN

An infant frenectomy is a type of minor surgical procedure involving the removal or modification of a patient’s frenulum, which is a small fold of tissue connecting the tongue or the upper lip to the mouth. In infants, the most common types of frenectomies are lingual frenectomy, which addresses tongue-tie, and labial frenectomy, which corrects a tight upper lip frenulum. These conditions can lead to difficulties with breastfeeding, speech development, and oral hygiene. The procedure is typically recommended when the frenulum is excessively tight or short, restricting the tongue or lip movement, and thereby impacting the infant’s ability to latch properly during feeding or causing other developmental concerns. It often involves the use of a laser or surgical scissors to release the frenulum, allowing for an improved range of motion in the tongue or upper lip. This simple intervention can significantly improve an infant’s ability to feed, preventing further complications related to poor nutrition or speech development issues as the child grows.

A frenectomy can be performed at any age, but in infants, it is often done as early as possible once a diagnosis of tongue-tie or lip-tie is made, sometimes within the first several days or the opening weeks of life. The timing of the procedure is typically based on the severity of the restriction and the impact it has on breastfeeding or other oral functions. Early intervention is often preferred because it can immediately alleviate feeding difficulties and allow for normal oral development. However, in instances where the condition presents as mild and not cause significant problems, healthcare providers may adopt a watchful waiting approach to see if the frenulum stretches on its own as the child grows. There is no absolute minimum age for a frenectomy, but the procedure is most performed during infancy when feeding issues are most apparent. Some healthcare providers might recommend waiting a few weeks to see if the condition improves naturally. However, when breastfeeding is severely impacted, or if there are concerns about long-term oral and speech development, the procedure may be recommended earlier to provide immediate relief and prevent future complications.

While any surgical procedure may cause some discomfort, an infant frenectomy is generally considered to be minimally painful, particularly when performed using modern techniques such as laser surgery. A frenectomy is quick, often taking only a few minutes, and infants typically experience minimal discomfort due to the small size of the incision and the rapid healing capabilities of infants. Pain management strategies, such as the utilization of local anesthesia and pain relief medication, if necessary, are usually effective in keeping the infant comfortable both during and after the procedure. Most infants show little distress during the procedure and can often be soothed immediately afterward through breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. While some tenderness may occur during the healing period, it is typically mild and short-lived.

Recovery from a frenectomy in infants is typically rapid, with most babies showing signs of improvement within a day or two after the procedure. The small incision made during the surgery heals quickly, and many infants can resume normal feeding almost immediately. Parents are often encouraged to nurse or feed their baby right after the procedure to provide comfort and help with the healing process. Most of the discomfort usually subsides within 24 to 48 hours, with full healing expected within a week. During the recovery period, parents may be instructed to perform gentle exercises to keep the tissue flexible and to prevent any reattachment of the frenulum. These exercises, along with normal feeding, can help ensure that the tongue or lip has full mobility as the tissue heals. Follow-up visits with the healthcare provider are typically scheduled to monitor the healing process and to ensure that the procedure has successfully resolved the issues that led to the frenectomy.