Frenectomies in Older Children

Does my child need a release?

There are many reasons for releasing the tissue holding the tongue down to the floor of the mouth. All of these reasons needs to be addressed in a holistic way- involving multiple specialists. Dr. Sam works hand-in-hand with your child’s specialist; whether that be a speech language pathologist, orofacial myologist, occupational therapist, orthodontist, ENT and others to make sure the release is indicated and that proper follow-up care and exercises are established post-release to give your child the best chance at a successful result from the release.

Signs Your Older Child May Be Tongue-tied

  • Speech development that is not responding to speech therapy interventions.

  • Obstructive sleep apnea with no other clear cause.

  • Food or texture aversions that do not improve with occupational therapy.

  • Mouth breathing that does not respond to therapeutic attempts to correct it.

  • Reflux

What To Expect

  • Evaluation

    Dr. Sam works hand-in-hand with your child’s specialist to understand their concerns. Dr. Sam uses this critical information along with a screening questionnaire and thorough examination of your child to help in determining whether they are a candidate for release.

  • Procedure

    Local anesthesia will be used to eliminate discomfort. The procedure itself takes a few minutes, there is minimal bleeding.

  • Aftercare

    Aftercare and mobility exercises are critical to the success of this procedure. Dr. Sam will go over this care with you prior to the procedure to ensure you feel confident in your ability to perform the exercises with your child and prevent re-attachment of the tissue.