If you’ve recently discovered that your child needs a frenectomy to release a lip or tongue-tie, one of the first things you may ask their pediatric dentist is how long the recovery will take. Knowing what to expect when pursuing this type of treatment is important, even though it is a fairly quick process. As you think about your child’s upcoming procedure, keep reading to learn more about their at-home recovery.
What Does a Frenectomy Involve?
A frenectomy is a simple procedure that involves releasing the banded tissue underneath the tongue or behind the upper lip. More commonly referred to as lip and tongue-ties, these restrictions keep children, teenagers, and even adults from being able to eat normally, speak clearly, maintain good oral health, and feel confident in their appearance.
By providing a frenectomy, a dentist can use a soft tissue laser to quickly and easily release the tissue, effectively detaching it from the floor of the mouth (tongue-tie) or the upper gums (lip-tie).
The laser’s precise movement targets only the affected tissue, and it produces minimal bleeding and swelling, so your child will experience a more comfortable and less stressful experience.
What Should You Expect During Your Child’s Recovery?
Once your child’s dentist is finished with the frenectomy, the next step is to help them heal comfortably at home. This requires following some carefully crafted instructions, as these will ensure the banded tissue does not try to reattach over time.
The average recovery time for a frenectomy is a few weeks, as the tissue will need to fully heal. Depending on the age of your child and the severity of the tie, this timeframe can vary. What is most important to remember, though, is that performing tongue and/or lip stretches is crucial during this time.
No matter how old your child is, exercising the newly released tongue and/or lip is essential and can be achieved by practicing a few simple steps, such as:
- Lifting the tongue toward the roof of the mouth with two fingers before letting it fall back onto your finger.
- Moving your child’s lip from side to side by placing a finger underneath the upper lip.
- Massaging (gently) the sides of the wound to keep their tongue loose.
- Allowing your baby to nurse or take a bottle immediately following a frenectomy.
It’s normal for your child to feel some slight discomfort after their procedure, but this will subside over time. By continuing to massage the area around the wound and keeping an eye on its healing, you can expect your baby, child, or teen to begin using their lip or tongue more readily, which is the ultimate goal of treatment.
About the Author
Dr. Ben Baghai is a board-certified pediatric dentist with more than 20 years of experience. As one of two dental professionals leading the way at Garland Pediatric Dentistry, he works closely with patients living with lip and tongue-ties. Offering frenectomies as a proven solution to treat this problem, we use a soft tissue laser to create a safer, more comfortable approach – one that reduces recovery time at home. If you are unsure whether your child has a lip or tongue-tie, contact us at (972) 674-9966 to schedule a consultation with our team.