Infant Frenectomy

When most children are born, their lingual frenum naturally separates; however, in some cases, this frenum remains attached to the bottom of their tongue. When this occurs, the child will develop what is commonly referred to as “tongue-tie” or ankyloglossia. Though the reason tongue-tie occurs is unknown, the issue is more prevalent among males and research indicates genetic predisposition may play a role.

Thanks to increased awareness of frenum-related issues and the impact enlarged or abnormally sized frenums can have on an infants ability to nurse and thrive, there are an increasing number of frenectomies performed every year. Though many parents are concerned at the thought of their newborn having a surgical procedure, the frenectomy procedure is very fast and painless and has very small chance of complications. There are also many important benefits a newborn will receive by having the frenectomy, one of the biggest being their ability to nurse. For babies who are born with normal sized frenums, their tongue naturally curls around the mother’s breast and draws the nipple into their throat when they suckle; newborns whose tongue mobility is limited are unable to perform this same function with the same effectiveness, which results in them being unable to properly latch and receive the necessary nutrients to thrive.

Although there is a chance that your child will naturally outgrow this issue and/or learn to adapt, a growing number of experts recommend having the frenectomy procedure performed if your child is a candidate, as the procedure is safe, relatively painless, and has a high success rate. First, your infant is swaddled, and their tongue lifted gently up. Next, the frenum is snipped using sterile scissors and then evaluated to ensure the appropriate amount of the frenum has been clipped. Following this, the frenectomy will be complete. Immediately following this procedure, it is fine to resume breastfeeding. In fact, many infants will find this to be comforting. Additionally, many mothers notice an immediate improvement in their child’s ability to latch following the frenectomy procedure.

If your infant displays any of the following, this may be an indication that there is an issue related to their frenum:

• Inability to latch while breastfeeding
• Slides off quickly while feeding
• Makes clicking sounds while nursing
• Cheeks suck in while nursing
• Mother experiences severe nipple pain, which can result in avoiding nursing
• Heart-shaped tongue, with a dent or divot on the tip of their tongue
• Mother develops breast infection and/or has low milk supply
• Child fails to gain weight due to low milk supply

It is important to have your child evaluated if you have noticed or experienced any of the aforementioned issues. It is also important to be aware that not all children with tongue-tie will demonstrate these issues, though they may end up developing issues later in life due to tongue-tie being left untreated.

Common issues that may develop later in life include:

• Increased risk of developing periodontal disease or other oral health related issue. One important function the tongue serves in maintaining oral health is swiping away food debris. When tongue movement is limited, more food debris can remain on the teeth and gums, which can lead to inflammation and decay.
• Difficulty speaking and/or articulating certain vowels or consonants
• Inhibited ability to do things like lick an ice cream cone, lick one’s lips, kiss, or play a woodwind instrument
• A gap can develop between the front two teeth

More on Frenectomy : Lingual Frenectomy