Can a Dentist Treat a Tongue Tie? My Personal Guide to Tongue Tie and Frenectomy

Table of Contents

• Types of Tongue Tie: Anterior vs Posterior
• Symptoms and Why They Matter

• General Dentists vs Pediatric Dentists
• Oral Surgeons and Working With Specialists

• Diagnosis: Finding Out If You Need the Procedure
• The Frenectomy Process: Tools, Anesthesia, and More

• Before the Frenectomy: The Consultation
• Aftercare and Healing: My Essential Tips

Introduction: My Journey With Tongue Tie Treatment

Sometimes people ask me things that remind me of my own experiences. “Can a dentist cut a tongue tie?” is one of those questions. The short answer is yes, most dentists can treat tongue ties. But that’s really just the start.

I remember the first time I heard about “ankyloglossia.” I was helping a friend who couldn’t breastfeed her new baby. Her doctor thought it might be a tongue tie, but my friend didn’t know who to see—a dentist, an ENT, or someone else? That started my search into what a tongue tie really is, who can fix it, and what goes into treating it for babies, kids, or even adults.

What I learned changed how I thought about dentists forever. If you’re reading this looking for simple, honest advice—for yourself or your child—let me tell you what I now know, step by step. I hope it helps you feel sure about what to do.

What Is a Tongue Tie (Ankyloglossia)? My Experience Explaining It

At first, “tongue tie” sounded kind of funny to me, like something from a kid’s story. But once you or someone you know has it, you see how real it is.

Tongue tie—also called ankyloglossia—happens when the tissue (the lingual frenulum) under the tongue is too short or tight. This keeps the tongue from moving much.

Types of Tongue Tie: Anterior vs Posterior

There’s more than one way a tongue can be “tied”:

• Anterior tongue tie shows up at the tip of the tongue. You can spot it when someone sticks out their tongue but can’t get it out far.
• Posterior tongue tie is further back under the tongue. It’s trickier to find and sometimes even doctors miss it. That’s why you need someone who really knows what to look for.

Symptoms and Why They Matter

The problems aren’t always obvious right away:

• Infants: Trouble latching or breastfeeding, slow weight gain, babies that seem gassy or spit up often, or a clicking sound while feeding. I watched my friend’s baby go through all this—it was tough to see.
• Children/Adults: Trouble saying some words, problems licking things like ice cream, or fighting to keep teeth clean. Even eating can be hard for some.

From what I’ve seen, a tongue tie can cause more issues than just in the mouth. It can mess with how you clean your teeth, cause ongoing dental problems, and make people feel shy or embarrassed.

Who Can Perform a Frenectomy? Dentists, Specialists, and More

Are you wondering if your dentist can fix a tongue tie? You’re not the only one. I found out that not every dentist handles tongue ties in the same way.

General Dentists vs Pediatric Dentists

Most regular dentists learn how to spot and fix tongue ties, but how much they do it can be different. Some focus on adult teeth and might do tongue ties just now and then. It’s always smart to ask if they do this often.

Pediatric dentists, who work with kids, are the main people for babies and young children. They get extra training for working with little ones, and from everyone I talked to, that really matters.

Oral Surgeons and Working With Specialists

Sometimes an oral surgeon has to step in—usually when the tie is thick, complicated, or didn’t get fixed the first time. These surgeons do more detailed mouth surgeries and can give medicine to really calm nervous patients.

Other times, a team works together. I’ve seen speech therapists, feeding helpers, and ear-nose-throat (ENT) doctors all join with a dentist. Teamwork like this can lead to the best results.

If you’re not sure, just ask your dental office if they’ve helped with tongue ties before. And if you want to know about new dental tools and techniques, places linked to a china dental lab sometimes know all about the latest stuff for mouth surgeries and repairs.

What Happens During a Frenectomy? Step-By-Step From My Perspective

Honestly, the word “frenectomy” sounds a lot scarier than the actual thing.

Diagnosis: Finding Out If You Need the Procedure

First comes a good check by the dentist:

• They lift your tongue to look underneath.
• They ask you to move your tongue—like touching the roof of your mouth or sticking it out.
• They check for problems eating, talking, and keeping teeth clean.

For babies, feeding helpers and lactation consultants are sometimes brought in. For older kids or adults, the main things are speech, eating, and brushing teeth.

The Frenectomy Process: Tools, Anesthesia, and More

If you need the procedure, here’s what usually happens:

• Numbing: The dentist puts numbing gel or gives a little shot to make things painless. Small kids or very scared people sometimes get something to help them relax.
• Tools: They either use scissors or a special laser. Both ways work (more on the difference below).
• The cutting or lasering part? It takes just a few minutes. The tight tissue is cut away, letting the tongue move free.
• Stitches? Sometimes with scissors, hardly ever with lasers.

When I saw a dentist use a laser on a wriggly toddler, I was amazed at how fast and easy it went. The bleeding was almost nothing, and the child started healing fast.

Laser vs Traditional Frenectomy: What I Noticed Firsthand

Here’s a big question: what’s better, scissors or laser?

• Scissors/Traditional: Uses regular tools. There is a bit more blood and sometimes they have to use stitches. It can feel sore for a day or so.
• Laser: This is a big improvement. Lasers (like CO2 or diode) make it almost bloodless and hurt less afterward. The times I’ve watched, kids were back to normal in hours—sometimes eating a popsicle that same day!

Not all dentists have lasers, so ask. If I had to choose, I’d go with laser, especially for little kids, but both work well if the dentist is skilled.

Benefits of Getting a Tongue Tie Released—What I Observed

Let’s be honest: getting a tongue tie fixed can be life changing. I’ve seen it myself.

• Breastfeeding: Moms often say things get better right away—babies latch on better, feed easier, and it stops being a fight. My friend cried with relief after her daughter’s tongue tie was cut, and saw a big change by the next day.
• Talking: Older kids start making sounds that used to be hard. Speech therapy may still help, but it’s much easier after the procedure.
• Eating and Swallowing: Eating doesn’t take as much effort and there’s less chance of choking.
• Mouth Cleaning and Dental Health: Moving the tongue better makes brushing and keeping braces clean much easier. Dentists with a digital dental lab background often have the best tips for care after.
• Comfort and Confidence: I’ve seen teens and even grown-ups feel way more comfortable and sure of themselves after their tongue tie is fixed.

Preparing For Your Frenectomy and Recovery Tips

If you’re anything like me, planning any surgery can make you worry. Here’s what I think you should know.

Before the Frenectomy: The Consultation

The first visit is usually all about questions. Make a list—ask if the provider has done lots of these, what tools they use, how many, and what healing is like. It’s fine to ask about cost, how long it takes, and if your insurance will help.

If your dentist works with a good dental ceramics lab, you’ll see how up-to-date some offices are—important if you need more repairs in the future.

Aftercare and Healing: My Essential Tips

• Pain: Over-the-counter pain medicine like Tylenol or Advil is usually all you need.
• Exercises: This is super important. Doing special tongue or mouth movements after the cut keeps it from sticking back together. For babies, this means gently rubbing the area—your dentist will show you how.
• Food: Eat soft stuff for a day or two. For babies, feeding can start whenever they want.
• How It Looks: The area might look a bit puffy and a white spot is normal. But if you see greenish stuff, smell something bad, or your child gets a fever, call your dentist.

Parents get scared about doing mouth stretches for babies. Don’t be—it just takes some practice. Watch videos, get the dentist to show you, and keep trying. You’ll get better at it.

How To Choose the Right Dentist or Specialist

Not every provider is the same. Here’s what I’ve learned is important:

• Ask how much training and practice they have with tongue ties.
• Find out if they use lasers or scissors, and why.
• Check if they teach you the right stretches afterward.
• Will they send you to other helpers like speech therapists or ENTs if you need them?
• Word of mouth and online reviews are handy, but I mostly trust someone who is honest and patient with questions.

If you also want the best dental repairs or new teeth, offices working with a good dental implant lab can show you cool tech and teamwork (just ask at your checkup).

Possible Risks and Complications: What I Learned to Watch For

Let’s be real: while getting a tongue tie cut is pretty routine, no surgery is risk free.

• Small Bleeding: Stops fast, especially with a laser.
• Pain: Most people do fine with regular pain medicine.
• Infection: Not common, but check for redness, pus, bad smell, or fever.
• Sticking Back Together: This is the number one thing to avoid. That’s why you have to keep doing the stretches!
• Nerve Problem: Very, very rare—especially if your dentist is skilled.

I’ve mostly seen people worry a lot before the procedure, but it’s often not a big deal after. The best way to avoid problems? Do the stretches, keep your follow-ups, and call if anything feels off.

Case Studies and Data: What The Numbers Told Me

Facts aren’t everything, but sometimes they help.

The biggest thing? The sooner you fix a tongue tie—especially for babies—and carefully do aftercare, the better the results.

Frequently Asked Questions from My Inbox

Can a general dentist perform a frenectomy, or do I need a pediatric specialist?

Most general dentists can do the procedure, but pediatric dentists are more used to working with kids. Always ask about their experience.

Will insurance cover the cost?

It can change a lot depending on your plan. Ask the dentist’s front desk to check for you. The cost isn’t too high, especially for babies.

Will my child’s tongue tie grow back?

If you do the stretches and follow advice, it hardly ever comes back. The main thing is to be consistent.

Is a laser frenectomy less painful?

Most kids and adults say the laser hurts less and heals quicker than scissors do.

Who else should I talk to besides my dentist?

Lactation consultants, speech therapists, and ENTs can all help, especially if things aren’t better right away.

My Final Thoughts & Advice To You

Still not sure if a dentist can cut a tongue tie? They usually can—and many are the best choice for it. What really matters is picking someone with lots of practice, who makes you feel calm, and has a good team to help if anything gets tough.

I’ve seen how much happier and healthier people feel after fixing a tongue tie—parents, babies, kids, and adults all included. If you need feeding help, clearer speech, or just want your mouth to feel right, don’t shrug off this little procedure.

Ask lots of questions. Trust your gut. Pick someone you believe in. And know that you’re not alone. Getting the help you need is always a good move.

If you want to learn more about dental lab tech, tools for dental work, or how dentistry is changing, check out a china dental lab, or see what a digital dental lab or dental ceramics lab are doing. They show how much dentistry keeps moving ahead to help us all.

Remember: You can do this. If you have a tongue tie or think your child does, a dentist is often the right person to help.