A baby’s first smile. Their first latch. Their first words. These early milestones mean the world to parents—but when something like a lip or tongue-tie gets in the way, it can leave everyone feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.

The good thing is that you and your child can smile again. Our board-certified pediatric dentist, Dr. Sean Vostatek, offers consultations and any necessary treatment to treat lip or tongue ties. This minor surgical procedure, called a frenectomy, involves severing the tight frenulum—the connective tissue under the tongue (lingual) or behind the upper lip (labial). 

Here’s what you can expect from this procedure. 

1. Examination: First, a consultation with a trained pediatric dentist in Colorado Springs is necessary to determine the need for a frenectomy. Dr. Sean will discuss your child’s symptoms and administer an oral exam to assess the presence of a lip or tongue-tie. If so, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan to restore your child’s oral health. We’ll discuss the treatment, and you can ask as many questions as necessary to keep you well-informed. Oftentimes, same day treatment is offered as an option if parent’s feel immediate treatment will benefit the infant.
2. Local anesthetics: Your child’s comfort is always our priority. While the need to numb the area is oftentimes unnecessary in the smallest newborns, our team will evaluate and anesthetize your child to ensure a painless experience, if needed. However, sometimes, your child may need sedation dentistry to keep them relaxed during treatment. Our pediatric dentist offers several dental sedation options customized to your child’s needs and will be discussed at the consultation appointment. 
3. The frenectomy procedure: Once your child is at ease, your Colorado Springs pediatric dentist snips the restricted frenulum with a pair of scissors or a scalpel. This procedure takes a few seconds and will be over before you know it! Once completed, breastfeeding or bottle feeding is recommended to help with clotting, and most mothers find instant relief for parent and child at this time.  
4. Aftercare: It’s normal for babies to be fussy and have some discomfort after the procedure, but these symptoms usually subside within a few days. Our team will give you aftercare tips and a helpful video to manage pain, prevent infections, and avoid frenulum reattachment. Most babies return to nursing shortly after treatment, and older children typically feel relief within a day or two.

In babies, a tight frenulum can prevent proper latching during breastfeeding, leading to feeding difficulties and discomfort for both baby and mom. A lip or tongue-tie can contribute to speech delays, dental crowding, and trouble eating or swallowing in older children and adults. Luckily, you can avoid these challenges with a quick, painless, and minimally invasive frenectomy.