Frenectomies

A frenum (also called frenulum) is a piece of gum tissue that attaches to an area such as the tongue, lip or cheek. There are times that a frenum might be exceptionally tight, thick or short. If this occurs, it can contribute to difficulty in nursing for newborn babies.
 
Other issues that may arise from a tight or short frenum are: gum recession, the increased risk of traumatizing this area, as well as increased plaque build up if this causes the lip to be too tight. There are also many reputable studies about releasing the frenum and the relief of speech issues, airway issues, and even behavioral issues (due to the assistance in the correction leading to better sleep).
 
At Little Dental Studio, we perform frenectomy procedures in order to correct these frenum abnormalities.  Dr. Angela Austin has special training and uses a specialized CO2 laser to help release the frenum. A careful examination to ensure your child is a candidate is very important. We see patients as early as 10 days old, but case selection is very important. We also work side by side with a myofunctional therapist to ensure the treatment is as effective as possible.