A lingual frenum is the band of tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth. In some children, the lingual frenum is too short, restricting tongue movement and impairing the child’s oral and airway development. Your doctor may recommend a frenectomy to remove or clip the connective tissue. Sometimes a child’s lingual frenum may be too tight or too short, restricting the movement of the tongue. This can lead to ankyloglossia, also known as tongue tied. It can also impair a child’s jaw growth and airway development, leading to open mouth breathing, speech impediment, swallowing problems and bite misalignment. In babies, it can cause nursing problems. A frenectomy is a simple procedure that can be performed surgically or with a laser. For a surgical frenectomy, a local anesthetic is applied to the site first. Next, your doctor removes or clips the lingual frenum and uses dissolvable sutures. The site is usually healed within a couple of weeks. A laser can also be used to remove or sever the lingual frenum. Using a laser can be beneficial as it eliminates the need for stitches and allows for minimal bleeding, as well as a faster healing time. Once the area is healed, your child will have improved oral health, proper tongue function and appropriate airway development.
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