Tongue tie affects nearly 5% of newborns, yet many parents don’t realize this common condition could be impacting their child’s ability to nurse, speak clearly, or maintain proper oral hygiene. The good news is that a simple, quick procedure called a frenectomy can release these restrictions and dramatically improve your child’s quality of life.
At Kool Koala Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry, Dr. Frederick Ballard, Dr. Alexa Martinelli, Dr. Babak Movaghar, Dr. Ryan Abdelrahim, and Dr. William Desonne provide gentle frenectomy procedures for children throughout Salem County. Our pediatric dentistry approach prioritizes comfort while delivering effective results that can transform your child’s oral function.
Tongue tie occurs when the lingual frenulum – the tissue connecting your child’s tongue to the floor of their mouth – is unusually tight, thick, or short. This restriction prevents the tongue from moving freely, creating challenges with nursing, eating, speaking, and oral hygiene.
Signs of tongue tie in infants include difficulty latching during breastfeeding, prolonged feeding sessions, and poor weight gain. Mothers may experience pain, cracked nipples, or inadequate milk supply due to ineffective nursing patterns.
Older children with untreated tongue tie often struggle with certain speech sounds, particularly those requiring tongue-tip elevation like “t,” “d,” “l,” and “r.” They may have difficulty licking their lips, reaching food particles with their tongue, or maintaining proper oral hygiene.
Lip tie involves similar restriction of the tissue connecting the lip to the gums. Upper lip tie can create large gaps between front teeth and make thorough cleaning around the gum line challenging.
A frenectomy is a minor surgical procedure that releases the restricted tissue, allowing normal tongue and lip movement. Our Pennsville team performs this quick procedure using advanced techniques that minimize discomfort and promote rapid healing.
The procedure typically takes just a few minutes to complete. We may recommend nitrous oxide to help your child feel relaxed during treatment, though many children tolerate the procedure well with just topical numbing.
Following the frenectomy, most children experience immediate improvement in tongue mobility. Infants often nurse more effectively right away, while older children may notice improvements in speech and eating within days to weeks.
Post-procedure care is straightforward and manageable for most families. We provide detailed instructions for keeping the area clean and comfortable during healing. Most children experience minimal discomfort that responds well to over-the-counter pain relief.
The healing process typically takes one to two weeks, during which we may recommend gentle exercises to prevent the tissue from reattaching. These simple stretches help maintain the improved range of motion achieved through the procedure.
Results from frenectomy can be life-changing for children and families. Improved nursing success rates, clearer speech development, and better oral hygiene capabilities are common outcomes that enhance your child’s overall health and confidence.
Our Pennsville team carefully evaluates each child to determine whether frenectomy would provide meaningful benefits. We consider factors such as the severity of restriction, your child’s age, current symptoms, and functional limitations.
Not every child with a visible frenulum requires treatment. We only recommend frenectomy when the restriction creates functional problems that impact nursing, speech, eating, or oral hygiene. Our conservative approach ensures that children receive treatment only when it will provide clear benefits.
For a dental emergency, please call us at 856-851-2873.
At Kool Koala Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry, we combine surgical precision with gentle pediatric care to deliver exceptional frenectomy results for children throughout Salem County. Our commitment to creating positive dental experiences helps children feel comfortable even during minor surgical procedures.
Our Pennsville office provides a welcoming environment where children and parents feel supported throughout the treatment process. We take time to answer questions, explain procedures, and ensure families feel confident about their treatment decisions.
Think your child might benefit from frenectomy treatment? Contact our Pennsville office today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how this simple procedure could improve your child’s oral function and quality of life.
At Kool Koala Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry, our Salem County team is dedicated to providing exceptional care to children and adolescents. Each of our highly trained pediatric dentists is passionate about making dental visits a positive, comfortable experience for every child. Our team includes:
Monday: 8:00am – 2:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am – 2:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am – 2:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am – 2:00pm
Friday: 8:00am – 2:00pm
See what our patients in Salem County, NJ are saying about their experience at Kool Koala Pediatric and Adolescent Dentistry.
Our pediatric dentist in Pennsville offers the following dentistry services:
"(Required)" indicates required fields
