Learn more about pain-free shots at Pine Tree Pediatric Dentistry.
When your child struggles with breastfeeding, speech development, or eating challenges, the underlying cause may be a tongue tie or lip tie. These common oral conditions affect the movement and function of the tongue or lips, potentially impacting your child’s ability to eat, speak, and thrive.
At Pine Tree Pediatric Dentistry, Portland pediatric dentist Dr. Tesha Waggoner understands the concerns parents face when their children experience feeding difficulties or developmental delays related to ankyloglossia. As a mom herself, she has put endless thought and care into making our dental office a place your child won’t fear or dread, but look forward to visiting! Our pediatric dental team provides comprehensive evaluation and frenectomy treatment for tongue ties and lip ties in Portland, helping children achieve better oral function and overall well-being.
A tongue tie, medically known as ankyloglossia, occurs when the lingual frenulum (the tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth) is too tight or thick. This restrictive frenulum limits the tongue’s range of motion and can interfere with essential functions like nursing, eating, swallowing, and speaking.
Lip ties involve similar restrictions with the labial frenulum connecting the upper or lower lip to the gums. These oral restrictions are present from birth and can vary significantly in severity. While some children may experience minor limitations, others face substantial challenges with feeding, speech development, and oral hygiene that require professional frenectomy intervention.
Recognizing the signs of tongue ties and lip ties early can help ensure your child receives appropriate frenectomy care when it’s most effective.
Infants with tongue tie or lip tie may struggle with latching during breastfeeding, feed for extended periods without gaining adequate weight, or make clicking sounds while nursing. You might observe that your baby becomes frustrated during feeding times or that breastfeeding causes significant pain for the mother due to restricted tongue movement.
As children grow, untreated tongue ties can affect speech development. You may notice difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, particularly those requiring tongue movement to the roof of the mouth like “l,” “r,” “t,” “d,” “n,” “s,” and “z.” Some children develop a lisp or have trouble being understood by others.
Eating challenges may also emerge, including difficulty chewing certain textures, food getting stuck under the tongue, or problems swallowing. Physical signs include a heart-shaped tongue tip when extended, inability to touch the tongue to the roof of the mouth, limited ability to move the tongue side to side, or a visible thick band of restrictive tissue under the tongue or lip.
Addressing tongue ties and lip ties promptly through frenectomy procedures can prevent numerous complications and support your child’s healthy development.
For infants, frenectomy treatment often leads to improved breastfeeding success, better weight gain, and reduced feeding difficulties. This pediatric procedure can significantly decrease stress for both baby and parents while supporting the crucial bonding that occurs during nursing.
Early frenectomy intervention also supports proper speech development, reducing the likelihood of speech therapy needs later. Children who receive frenectomy treatment often show improvements in articulation, clarity, and overall communication skills. For older children in Portland, we only perform tongue tie releases in conjunction with speech or myofunctional therapy to ensure the best possible results.
Additionally, releasing restrictive frenulum tissue through frenectomy can prevent dental problems such as gaps between the front teeth (diastema), difficulty maintaining proper oral hygiene due to limited tongue movement, and potential bite alignment issues. The social and emotional benefits of frenectomy treatment are equally important, as children who can eat, speak, and express themselves clearly often experience increased confidence and better social interactions with peers.
When conservative approaches aren’t sufficient to address feeding difficulties or speech concerns related to tongue tie or lip tie, a frenectomy may be recommended to release the restrictive tissue and restore proper tongue or lip function.
A frenectomy is a minor surgical procedure that releases the restrictive frenulum tissue connecting the tongue or lip. This outpatient frenectomy procedure involves carefully cutting or removing the excess tissue to restore normal tongue or lip movement and function. During the frenectomy, we use local anesthesia to ensure your child’s comfort throughout the procedure.
Your child may receive a few stitches to help the incision heal properly after the frenectomy. For children who may need additional support, our Portland practice offers sedation options and we maintain privileges at Providence St. Vincent’s Hospital for frenectomy cases requiring general anesthesia. The actual frenectomy tissue release takes only a few minutes, and most children recover quickly with minimal discomfort.
We understand that some children may feel anxious about dental procedures, and we’ve designed our Portland pediatric dental practice to address these concerns during frenectomy treatment.
Our office is designed to accommodate children of all abilities, offering helpful tools such as weighted blankets and low lighting to create a calming environment during frenectomy appointments. Children can even watch a movie during their frenectomy treatment to help them feel more relaxed.
Our in-office dog, Meyers, is great with children of all abilities and often helps put young patients at ease before frenectomy procedures. During treatment appointments, we encourage parents to be silent observers or helpers, allowing our trained Portland pediatric dental team to guide your child through the frenectomy process using proven techniques designed for pediatric patients.
Proper aftercare following a frenectomy is essential for optimal healing and achieving the best possible results from the tongue tie or lip tie procedure.
We provide detailed post-frenectomy instructions for wound care, including gentle stretching exercises to prevent the frenulum tissue from reattaching. Pain management after frenectomy typically involves over-the-counter medications, and most children return to normal activities within a day or two following the procedure.
For infants, you can usually resume breastfeeding immediately after the frenectomy procedure. Many mothers notice improved latching and feeding efficiency within the first few days following the tongue tie or lip tie release.
Speech improvements in older children may take several weeks to months as they learn to use their increased tongue mobility effectively after frenectomy. We provide guidance on exercises and activities that can help accelerate this adaptation process following frenectomy treatment in Portland.
If you notice any signs of tongue tie or lip tie affecting your child’s feeding, speech, or oral function, scheduling a frenectomy evaluation with a pediatric dentist is an important first step. Early assessment can help determine whether a frenectomy is necessary and allow for timely intervention.
Pediatric dentist Drs. Waggoner has extensive experience evaluating and treating tongue ties and lip ties in children of all ages in Portland. During the frenectomy evaluation, we’ll carefully examine your child’s oral anatomy, discuss your concerns about tongue tie or lip tie symptoms, and recommend the most appropriate course of action.
Our Portland pediatric dental team takes a thorough approach to assessing tongue ties and lip ties to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate frenectomy treatment recommendations.
We begin with a comprehensive frenectomy examination to assess the severity of the oral restriction and its impact on your child’s function. This evaluation includes observing feeding or eating patterns, assessing speech development, and examining the oral structures for tongue tie or lip tie.
We work closely with families to develop individualized frenectomy treatment plans that consider each child’s age, severity of the condition, and specific challenges. Our pediatric dentists bring extensive experience in treating complex oral conditions including ankyloglossia.
Dr. Tesha Waggoner completed her pediatric dental training at OHSU and maintains privileges at Providence St. Vincent Hospital for frenectomy procedures requiring general anesthesia.
If your child is experiencing feeding difficulties, speech challenges, or other concerns that may be related to a tongue tie or lip tie, Pine Tree Pediatric Dentistry is here to help with professional frenectomy treatment. Our Portland pediatric dentists provide comprehensive evaluations and gentle frenectomy procedures to help children thrive.
Our office offers helpful accommodations like weighted blankets, low lighting, and movies during frenectomy treatment, plus our in-office dog, Meyers, helps create a welcoming atmosphere. We’re proud participants in the Down Syndrome Network Oregon Buddy Walk and supporters of Smile Oregon, reflecting our commitment to serving all children in our community. Contact us today at (503) 292-9274 or schedule a frenectomy consultation through our contact form to discuss your child’s needs.
