FRENECTOMY 

WHAT IS A TONGUE-TIE?

Tongue-tie is a condition wherein the lingual frenulum (the piece of tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth) is too thick or short. It restricts the tongue’s range of motion. The tongue should normally rest in an upper position, touching the palate (top of the mouth). Tongue-tie causes the tongue to adopt a lower resting position.

DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE A TONGUE-TIE? 

Unfortunately, most parents are not aware their child has a tongue-tie. If an infant or a child has sleep issues or issues with tongue movement, the parent should have the child evaluated for tongue-tie. Frenectomy, tongue-tie release, should occur as early as possible to avoid lifelong, adverse effects of tongue-tie. Most patients can avoid these problems with early interventional treatment. Here are some of the symptoms to look out for that could indicate a Tongue Tie:

DOES YOUR INFANT:

DOES YOUR TODDLER OR OLDER CHILD:

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TREAT A TONGUE – TIE?

Parents may be familiar with the condition and how it can lead to problems with breastfeeding and speech problems down the road. But recent studies have also identified tongue-ties as a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

This position interferes with the palatal development and can cause it to be abnormally high or arched, leaving less room for the nasal passageways. It can also contribute to the disproportionate growth of the lower jaw. These factors increase the chance that the airway will be smaller than it should be.
Perhaps the biggest concern for young children is a long-term predisposition to sleep-disordered breathing and progression to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a major medical concern worthy of our attention.

HOW DO TONGUE-TIES CONTRIBUTE TO OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA?

The tongue’s normal position is high in the palate during oral functions like sucking, swallowing, and chewing. However, when the tongue is restricted or tied, these functions are also restricted. The tongue adopts a lowered posture, which can cause altered palate development, deficits in mid-face development, and disproportionate growth of the lower jaw. Untreated tongue tie issues cause anatomical changes resulting in abnormal face development and reduced oral cavity size. These changes may cause weak facial structure and abnormal support of the upper airway.  

The combination of these events results in the development of a smaller airway, which is more prone to collapse during sleep. If left untreated, these issues can lead to a collapse of the airway during sleep and decreased oxygen saturation. Sleep apnea is a serious problem that can lead to poor sleep, fatigue, mouth breathing, snoring, and other abnormal breathing. Interrupted breathing during sleep is one of the more noticeable symptoms of tongue-tie in adults.

As a result, altered nasal breathing and disturbance occur slowly over time, with progressive worsening into adulthood, subsequently increasing the chances of development of sleep apnea.

TREATING TONGUE-TIES WITH A FRENECTOMY

A lingual frenectomy, tongue-tie release, is simply the removal of the frenum under the tongue. Frenectomy is a very common procedure performed mainly on infants as young as a few days old – but is also on children and adults as needed. A well-timed frenectomy can be a life-changing treatment that can also prevent snoring, TMJ disorders, headaches, migraines, postural distortions and even ADD and ADHD.