A laser frenectomy can be used to treat your child if they have been diagnosed with lip or tongue tie. These are conditions that are caused by abnormalities in the tissues that connect the tongue to the floor of the mouth, or the roof of the mouth to the top set of teeth. These tissues being deformed can lead to difficulty speaking or eating. It also makes the child more vulnerable to orthodontic issues like spaces developing between their front teeth.
A laser frenectomy involves separating the tissue that connects the tongue to the rest of the mouth. When this tissue is too small, the movement of the child’s tongue is restricted, leading to difficulty speaking and suckling.
Surgical knives were once used to perform the procedure, so children needed to be placed under general anesthesia to perform the treatment. It was viewed as an invasive treatment that many parents were reluctant to sign their children up for.
Modern dental lasers have simplified what was once viewed as an invasive, surgical treatment. It allows the dentist to perform the procedure without a need for anesthesia while not causing the child any pain. Using a laser to perform the treatment also significantly reduces the recovery period.
The procedure is safe enough for children and adults alike. It can be performed on infants, allowing dentists to address issues with a child’s frenum before it significantly impacts their development. For example, a tight frenum can end up leading to a lifetime of speech impediments since it hinders the child’s speech development.
One of the main reasons why a frenectomy is performed is to improve their child’s health and to treat issues that make it harder for them to get the nourishment they need, and to develop their speech. It is quite common for a child to be both tongue and lip tied – which leaves them vulnerable to serious orthodontic issues like abnormal jaw positioning or poor teeth alignment in addition to poor speech and chewing abilities.
Infants who need a frenectomy tend to make breastfeeding more painful for the mother, so treating it gets her some relief as well. Other benefits of getting your child a laser frenectomy include:
A laser frenectomy can be performed on a child at any age if they are tongue or lip tied. Give us a call or stop by our clinic to schedule an appointment with our dentist.
Request an appointment here: https://www.hvkidsmiles.com or call Hudson Valley Pediatric Dentistry at (845) 363-4177 for an appointment in our Middletown office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Laser Frenectomy in Middletown, NY.
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