Home » A Dentist Who Offers the Laser Frenectomy Procedure
Frenectomies: tongue tie/ lip tie

A Dentist Who Offers the Laser Frenectomy Procedure

We commonly say someone is “tongue-tied” when they are too shy to speak. Yet the term comes from a real medical condition. Without treatment, tongue tie or lip tie can cause serious problems with health and oral development, as well as causing embarrassment. Dr. Olivia Hart offers parents in the Glen Allen and Glen Allen, Virginia area an advanced laser frenectomy procedure option.

WHAT IS FRENECTOMY?

Frenum are folds of tissue that help to keep mobile organs in the body connected. One of these attachment bands, the lingual frenulum, moors the tongue to the floor of the mouth. There is another inside the upper lip, the labial frenulum. When a frenulum is too tight or anchored too low, it inhibits oral function.

In infants, ankyloglossia (tongue tie) or lip tie can cause problems with breastfeeding, keeping the child from getting adequate nutrition. Over time, a tight frenulum may impact dental development, result in speech impediment, and cause difficulty eating certain foods. The condition is also linked to TMJ disorders and increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Frenectomy is a surgical procedure that releases this attachment, allowing the tongue or lip to move properly.

IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT DR. HART’S FRENECTOMY PROCEDURE IN GLEN ALLEN AND RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

Historically, frenectomy was performed by snipping the fibrous band with surgical scissors or cutting it with a scalpel. Dr. Hart offers laser treatments for lip and tongue tie. Children benefit greatly from the procedure, and it is never too late to address the condition – adults can have laser frenectomy, too.

Advantages of the laser alternative include:

  • Virtually painless
  • No anesthesia needed (very important for babies)
  • Quick – the entire appointment takes only a few minutes
  • No sutures
  • Little or no bleeding, swelling, or post-procedure discomfort
  • Heals quickly with low risk of complications
  • Low risk of re-attachment
  • Very effective – treatment can make a tremendous difference for a colicky child, and make feeding more comfortable for mom

Dr. Hart performs frenectomy on children as young as 4 years old depending on their ability to tolerate the procedure.

Contact Dr. Olivia Hart of Virginia Biological Dentistry to find out if an advanced laser frenectomy procedure could help your child. Click here to make an appointment now or call (804) 381-6238 or email at info@virginiabiologicaldentistry.com to learn more.

Dr. Olivia Hart

Dr. Olivia Hart
DDS, NMD, IABDM & ICOI Fellow & AAIP Fellow

Dr. Olivia Hart, a founder of Virginia Biological Dentistry and a highly accomplished biological dentist, is honored to serve her community in Glen Allen, Richmond VA. She has always sought to enrich her knowledge in the field of holistic/biological dental health and to offer her patients the best comprehensive dental care possible. Her Virginia Biological Dentistry provides services ranging from biocompatible ceramic restorations, ceramic implants, and extractions with a biological protocol to treatments of sleep apnea, TMJ and other specialized bio-dental services.