YOU’VE PROBABLY HEARD THE TERM “TONGUE TIED”. Did you know that common phrase comes from an actual medical condition that can inhibit speech?
The tongue is attached (or tied) to the base of the mouth by a thin tissue web called the lingual frenum. For some people, the frenum is unusually thick or tight which restricts tongue movement, and therefore, speech.
When that’s the case, it may be best to cut back the frenum a little bit. This is called a lingual frenectomy. It’s a simple procedure that is done by periodontists to whom we refer from our practice. Periodontists are dental specialists with advanced training in surgical procedures of the dental soft tissue of gums, jaws, and the tongue.
Tongue-Tie Can Affect:
- Speech
- Feeding and dental development in children
- One’s ability to keep the mouth clean after eating
Frenectomies Are Simple, Quick Procedures
Whether you’re an adult who wants to un-tie your tongue, or a lingual frenectomy has been recommended for your child, we want to give you an idea of what to expect.
It may sound intimidating, but it’s actually very simple. The frenulum doesn’t have nerves or muscle. It’s simply a connective tissue like an earlobe. The procedure usually takes under 10 minutes, and most patients feel fully recovered within the hour.
How Do You Know If A Lingual Frenectomy Will Help?
It is easy to determine if you or your child need a tongue-tie frenectomy prodecure by this simple test:
Stick out your tongue and try to touch your nose. If your tongue does not turn up and is stuck turned down, you need a lingual tongue frenectomy!
One of the most important reasons to get a lingual tongue frenectomy procedure other than speech and dental health, is that having the tongue tied down in this position makes it very difficult or impossible to eat an ice cream cone!
Questions? Ask Us!
We want to assure our patients that a lingual frenectomy is nothing to be nervous about. If you think a lingual frenectomy may help you or a family member, let us know. And if you have a friend experiencing problems associated with restricted tongue movement, share this article with them!
Thank you for your trust in our practice.
If you have questions about tongue-tie, visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, CA www.clubbraces.com. Call us at (925) 757-9000.
