How a Frenectomy Can Correct Your Child’s Speech Patterns

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A frenectomy removes soft tissue from your child’s mouth, usually tissue that’s either under the tongue or between the lips and the gums.

This tissue, known as a frenulum, is banded together and it can impact how your child speaks as they start developing their personal cadence and patterns. Here, we’’ll look at how a simple procedure can give your child more confidence to speak up as they grow up.

A Closer Look at Speech

The frenulum ultimately restricts how your child moves their tongue and lips. Sometimes called a tongue-tie in North Kansas City, MO, a frenectomy gives back the child’s range of motion, which is a must for both hard consonants and diphthongs alike.

A frenectomy gives your child the confidence to experiment with their articulation, allowing them to settle on speech patterns that work for them.

How Does the Procedure Work?

This ultimately depends on the type of frenulum that your child has. If your child’s tissue is located between the mouth and lower jaw, the practitioner will aim to reduce the size of the tissue. If the tissue is located between the upper lip and the gums, they can either remove or reduce the size of the tissue.

How Old Does My Child Need to Be?

A frenectomy is an extremely common (and safe!) surgery that can be done at any age — even if the child is only a day old. Your pediatrician or dentist in North Kansas City, MO can tell you more about when to schedule the service.

Tongue-Tied Treatments in North Kansas City, MO

If you’re looking for a skilled practitioner to perform your child’s frenectomy, contact the family-friendly dentists at NKC Dental today!

A dentist examines a young boy’s teeth as he sits in a dental chair, wearing a protective bib in a clean, bright dental clinic.

What Is a Frenectomy?

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A frenectomy is often recommended to parents when their child has tongue-tie. This occurs when their tongue can’t quite get the motion they need to properly feed. But what exactly is it and how does it work? Here, we’ll look at what a frenectomy is, as well as its benefits.

Frenectomies in Westwood, KS

A frenectomy is the removal of the excess tissue that’s limiting your child’s tongue movements. Either done with a scalpel or laser, the process is as fast as it is effective. There are two general types of frenectomies: lingual and labial.

With a lingual frenectomy, the practitioner will reduce the size of a small fold of tissue between the mouth and lower jaw. With a labial frenectomy, the practitioner will either remove or adjust the tissue between the upper lip to the gums. Typically, lingual frenectomies are a more common surgery and can be performed on infants as young as a day old.

Who Can Do a Frenectomy?

You might think of frenectomy as surgery, meaning you would contact either an oral surgeon or plastic surgeon. However, some dentists in Westwood can perform them. Depending on your child’s condition, you can talk to a pediatric dental practice to learn more about what’s available.

Find a Pediatric Dentist in Westwood

Frenectomies in Westwood are most often associated with breastfeeding because it can make it easier for the infant to get all the nutrients they need when they’re developing. However, you might seek one to reduce the odds of jaw or teeth misalignment or to improve your child’s ability to speak. If you have questions about whether a frenectomy is right for your child, contact NKC Dental to learn more about this fast (and extremely effective) procedure.