Tongue-Tie And Lip-Tie: When To Consider A Frenectomy For Your Child In North Las Vegas

What Parents Notice First

Does your baby struggle to latch, click while nursing, or seem unusually gassy after feeds? Does your toddler avoid certain textures, have speech sounds that are tough to form, or keep getting food trapped under the upper lip? These can be signs of tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) or lip-tie, conditions where a tight band of tissue (frenum) limits movement. For families in our community, a pediatric dentist in North Las Vegas can evaluate ties and, when appropriate, perform a gentle frenectomy to restore normal function.

What Exactly Is A Tongue-Tie Or Lip-Tie?

Everyone has frenums—small tissue bands that connect lips and tongue to nearby structures. Problems arise when those attachments are unusually short, thick, or tight:

• Tongue-tie: The lingual frenum restricts the tongue’s ability to lift, extend, or move side to side.
• Lip-tie: The labial frenum tethers the upper lip too firmly to the gum, limiting the “flange” (outward roll) needed for a deep latch and sometimes creating a food trap as kids grow.

Not every visible frenum is restrictive. The key question is function: does the tie interfere with feeding, speech, oral hygiene, dental development, or overall comfort?

Common Signs By Age Group

Infants

• Difficulty latching, prolonged feeds, or falling asleep at the breast without effective transfer
• Clicking sounds, leaking milk, excessive gassiness, reflux-like symptoms
• Maternal nipple pain or damage due to shallow latch
• Inadequate weight gain in more severe cases

Toddlers & Preschoolers

• Picky eating or aversion to certain textures
• Messy eating because the tongue can’t sweep food from the cheeks
• Mouth breathing or open-mouth posture
• Early speech challenges with sounds requiring tongue elevation or tip control (e.g., “t,” “d,” “l,” “n,” “r”)

School-Age Children & Teens

• Difficulty with fast, clear speech or fatigue while speaking
• Inability to lick lips, clean teeth with the tongue, or play wind instruments comfortably
• Braces challenges if the lip or tongue pulls on teeth or prevents normal movement
• Gum recession near the upper front teeth due to a tight lip frenum

How A Pediatric Dentist Evaluates Ties

A comprehensive assessment focuses on function, not just appearance. Your pediatric dentist in North Las Vegas will look at:

• Tongue range of motion (can it lift to the palate, extend past the lower lip, and move laterally?)
• Compensations (jaw jutting, lip gripping, or body tension during feeding)
• Lip mobility (can the upper lip comfortably roll outward?)
• Feeding history, weight gain, speech clarity, and oral habits
• Dental factors like spacing, gum health, and hygiene challenges

We often collaborate with lactation consultants, speech-language pathologists, and bodywork professionals (OT/PT) to ensure a 360° plan. Ties rarely exist in isolation—after release, muscles need practice and guidance to use their new range.

What Is A Frenectomy?

A frenectomy is a quick procedure that loosens or removes the restrictive tissue to restore mobility. Pediatric dentists commonly use either scissors or a soft-tissue laser:

• Scissor technique: Precise snip with sterile instruments; pressure and sutures (rarely) may be used.
• Laser technique: Vaporizes tissue with minimal bleeding and often less postoperative soreness.
  Both methods are safe when performed by trained clinicians; the choice depends on anatomy, your child’s needs, and the provider’s recommendation.

Does It Hurt? What About Anesthesia?

For infants, the procedure is brief and typically performed with topical anesthetic; many babies return to feeding immediately for comfort. Toddlers and older children may benefit from local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, or—rarely—deeper sedation if they are highly anxious or if a complex release is required. Your pediatric dentist in North Las Vegas will discuss options so your child stays comfortable and calm.

Aftercare: The Road To Better Function

Post-release care matters as much as the procedure itself. Expect:

• Stretching or wound care (as instructed) to discourage reattachment while tissues heal.
• Feeding support with a lactation consultant for infants to relearn a deeper latch.
• Oral motor exercises from a speech or feeding therapist to strengthen new movement patterns.
• Bodywork (when recommended) to help relax tight muscles in the jaw, neck, and shoulders.

Mild fussiness is common for a day or two; over-the-counter pain guidance is provided when age-appropriate. Most children resume normal routines quickly, with improvements unfolding over days to weeks.

Will A Release Fix Everything?

A frenectomy makes better function possible, but practice makes it reliable. Think of it like removing a too-tight shoelace: you still need to learn to walk comfortably again. That’s why coordinated care and home exercises are so important—especially for speech and feeding.

Potential Benefits Families Report

• Infants: Deeper, quieter latch; less gassiness; more efficient feeding; improved weight gain; maternal comfort
• Toddlers/Children: Easier brushing and cleaning; fewer food traps; broader food acceptance; clearer speech over time with therapy
• Teens: Improved tongue mobility for speech and instruments; reduced pulling on braces; more comfortable oral function

Myths And Facts

• Myth: “Every tie must be cut.”
  Fact: Only functionally restrictive ties that impact health or development are candidates.
• Myth: “If we wait, it will always stretch.”
  Fact: Some tissues remain tight; growth alone doesn’t guarantee mobility.
• Myth: “Laser is always better than scissors.”
  Fact: Both are effective when used skillfully; overall care plan matters most.
• Myth: “Reattachment always happens.”
  Fact: With proper aftercare and follow-up, most releases heal predictably.

How To Decide What’s Right For Your Child

If you’re noticing struggles with feeding, speech clarity, mouth comfort, or persistent gum pulling, start with a function-based evaluation. Ask about collaborative care with lactation or speech therapy, the provider’s experience with ties, and the plan for aftercare. A thoughtful approach makes outcomes smoother and more predictable.

Wondering whether a tongue- or lip-tie is affecting your child? Call Shadow Creek Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics in North Las Vegas at (725) 204-7082 to Schedule a Consultation and get a personalized assessment and plan.