
The infant frenectomy is a straightforward outpatient procedure that can be completed during the same visit as the initial assessment. If a release is recommended, the treatment takes only a few minutes and a baby can go to the breast immediately following. The baby is swaddled and safety goggles are always used to protect baby’s eyes – I use a pen-sized laser on infants to remove the tight lingual frenulum. I apply an effective topical anesthetic gel on the frenular tissue prior to treatment, allowing for zero to minimal discomfort during the procedure. The anesthetic lasts for approximately 30 minutes.
Untreated tongue ties in infants can lead to difficulty chewing and swallowing firmer foods, altered jaw and dental development including a high palate and narrow facial structure, poor sleep patterns, mouth breathing, and increased gas and bloating resulting from poor tongue coordination and corresponding swallowing of air. Significant ties may result in delayed speech development due to the tongue being restricted in movement. Also, when tongue movement is restricted, the tongue cannot sweep across tooth surfaces and spread saliva, both crucial to oral cleansing.
Breathe to Thrive is at the forefront of this therapy, boasting a licensed team of medical professionals that include a licensed lactation consultant qualified to properly assess oral restrictions in infants. When communicating with moms pre-treatment, we cannot stress enough the importance of continued lactation support following the frenectomy procedure.
It is not only the tongue and jaw that prove to be key components in breastfeeding but in fact, the whole body. For this reason, tongue tied babies often have additional structural stressors to be addressed and I will recommend taking baby to see a bodyworker, a licensed professional such as an occupational, craniosacral or physical therapist. Bodywork encourages body awareness and encourages an infant to express postural reflexes and explore natural movement inclinations through the nervous system. After a tongue tie release, the infant’s tongue will need to adapt to a new and profound range of motion.
The infant frenectomy is a straightforward outpatient procedure that can be completed during the same visit as the initial assessment. If a release is recommended, the treatment takes only a few minutes and a baby can go to the breast immediately following. The baby is swaddled and safety goggles are always used to protect baby’s eyes – I use a pen-sized laser on infants to remove the tight lingual frenulum. I apply an effective topical anesthetic gel on the frenular tissue prior to treatment, allowing for zero to minimal discomfort during the procedure. The anesthetic lasts for approximately 30 minutes.
Untreated tongue ties in infants can lead to difficulty chewing and swallowing firmer foods, altered jaw and dental development including a high palate and narrow facial structure, poor sleep patterns, mouth breathing, and increased gas and bloating resulting from poor tongue coordination and corresponding swallowing of air. Significant ties may result in delayed speech development due to the tongue being restricted in movement. Also, when tongue movement is restricted, the tongue cannot sweep across tooth surfaces and spread saliva, both crucial to oral cleansing.
Breathe to Thrive is at the forefront of this therapy, boasting a licensed team of medical professionals that include a licensed lactation consultant qualified to properly assess oral restrictions in infants. When communicating with moms pre-treatment, we cannot stress enough the importance of continued lactation support following the frenectomy procedure.
It is not only the tongue and jaw that prove to be key components in breastfeeding but in fact, the whole body. For this reason, tongue tied babies often have additional structural stressors to be addressed and I will recommend taking baby to see a bodyworker, a licensed professional such as an occupational, craniosacral or physical therapist. Bodywork encourages body awareness and encourages an infant to express postural reflexes and explore natural movement inclinations through the nervous system. After a tongue tie release, the infant’s tongue will need to adapt to a new and profound range of motion.


Sleep Apnea & Snoring





Teeth Grinding & Headaches
Breathe to Thrive Holistic Dental Center
11201 Nall Avenue
Suite 120
Leawood, KS 66211
Monday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday: 7:30am – 4:30pm
Wednesday: 7:30am – 4:30pm
Thursday: 7:00am – 3:00pm
