Tongue-Tie and Lip-Tie Treatment in Christiansburg, VA

Everyone has a frenum, a fold of tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth and the upper lip to the gum. A tongue-tie, also called ankyloglossia, is a frenum that limits how far the tongue can lift or stretch. A lip-tie is a tight frenum between the upper lip and gum.

Not every visible frenum is a problem. What matters is how well the tongue or lip moves and whether your child is having trouble because of it. We also check the frenum during a baby's first dental exam, which the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends by the first birthday.

In babies:

• Trouble latching or staying latched during breastfeeding.
• Clicking sounds, long or very frequent feeds, or poor weight gain.
• Nipple pain or damage for the breastfeeding parent.

In older children:

• Difficulty lifting the tongue to the roof of the mouth or sticking it out past the lips.
• Trouble with certain speech sounds, which should also be checked by a speech-language pathologist.
• Food getting trapped, or difficulty cleaning the teeth and gums.

Many of these signs have other causes too, which is why a full evaluation comes first.

If treatment is recommended, a frenectomy releases the tight tissue. We use a dental laser, which allows a precise release with little bleeding. The procedure itself takes only a few minutes. Babies usually receive a numbing gel, and older children receive local anesthetic. Babies can typically feed right after the procedure, and older children can usually return to normal activities the same or next day.

Afterward, we show you any gentle exercises recommended for your child and schedule a follow-up to check healing. Support from a lactation consultant or speech-language pathologist is often part of the plan.

Research supports releasing a tongue-tie for some babies who have clear breastfeeding difficulties. Lip-ties need treatment far less often, and many cause no problems at all. We will only recommend a frenectomy when we believe it is likely to help your child, and we will explain what it can and cannot be expected to change. If your child also has a dental emergency, such as a torn frenum from a fall, our dental emergencies and trauma care team can help.

Some soreness is normal for a few days. For babies, frequent feeding and skin-to-skin contact are comforting, and your pediatrician can advise on pain relief. Older children may prefer soft, cool foods for a day or two. A white or yellow patch often forms where the tissue was released. This is a normal part of healing and fades over one to two weeks. Call us if your child has a fever, bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure or trouble feeding.

Feeding and speech involve many factors, so we see a frenectomy as one possible part of a larger plan. Before and after treatment, we encourage families to stay in touch with their pediatrician and, when relevant, a lactation consultant, speech-language pathologist or feeding therapist. Sharing what each provider sees helps make sure your child gets the right support, whether or not a release is recommended.

New parents in Blacksburg are about 15 minutes from our office along US-460. Feeding concerns can feel urgent, so call us and let us know your baby's age and what is happening during feeds. Bring any notes from your pediatrician or lactation consultant, which help us understand the full picture.

From Radford, our office is about 20 minutes away, and families from Dublin and Pulaski usually drive 25 to 35 minutes on I-81. If a frenectomy is recommended, it can often be done at the same visit as the evaluation, and we will schedule a follow-up to check healing.

Families from Roanoke City and Roanoke County drive about 40 to 50 minutes up I-81 to see us. We are happy to coordinate with lactation consultants and speech-language pathologists in the Roanoke Valley so care continues close to home after the procedure.