Infant Frenectomies (Tongue-Ties) in Kansas City

Gentle Tongue-Tie & Lip-Tie Treatment for Better Feeding, Comfort, and Development

If your baby is struggling with breastfeeding, bottle feeding, weight gain, reflux, or latch issues, a tongue-tie or lip-tie may be the cause. Our gentle laser approach helps restore proper oral function with precision, minimal discomfort, and a quicker recovery compared to traditional surgical methods.

What Is an Infant Frenectomy?

An infant frenectomy is a simple procedure used to release restrictive oral tissue known as a tongue-tie (lingual tie), lip-tie (labial tie) or cheek tie (buccal tie). These tight tissue attachments can limit normal movement of the tongue or upper lip and interfere with feeding, oral development, function and comfort.

The procedure is quick, minimally invasive, and commonly performed on infants experiencing feeding or latch difficulties.

Common Infant Symptoms

• Difficulty latching during breastfeeding
• Clicking sounds while feeding
• Frequent slipping off the breast or bottle
• Extended feeding times
• Poor weight gain
• Gassiness or reflux symptoms
• Colic-like behavior

Common Symptoms for Mothers

• Pain during breastfeeding
• Cracked or bleeding nipples
• Recurring plugged ducts or mastitis
• Low milk supply
• Frustrating or exhausting feeding sessions

Why Families Choose Laser Frenectomy

At Signature Smiles Dentistry KC, we use a modern laser instead of traditional scissors or scalpel techniques commonly used in some ENT settings.

Benefits of Laser Frenectomy

• More precise treatment
• Minimal bleeding
• Reduced swelling
• Less trauma to surrounding tissue
• Lower risk of infection
• Faster healing
• Shorter procedure time
• Typically no sutures required

Laser-assisted frenectomies are widely recognized for offering improved precision and comfort compared to traditional surgical methods.

The Added Benefit of

Red Light Therapy

Promoting Faster Healing & Comfort

Signature Smiles Dentistry KC also incorporates red light therapy as part of the healing process following infant frenectomy treatment.

Red Light Therapy May Help:

• Reduce inflammation
• Support tissue healing
• Improve circulation
• Minimize post-procedure discomfort
• Encourage faster recovery

Combined with gentle laser technology, red light therapy helps create a smoother healing experience for infants and parents alike.

Tongue tie correction is not a quick fix and successful breastfeeding/feeding is a process and journey that looks different for every baby. As any new parent knows, there isn’t a manual or instruction booklet for a new baby. Although this would make things much easier as you learn to take care of your child, every baby is different. No matter if it’s your first or fifth baby, every baby has a learning curve. This is also true with breastfeeding.

A recent New York Time's article has stirred questions about the legitimacy of the tongue-tie surgery. We at Signature Smiles believe that like any healthcare journey, certain procedures may not be the best fit for every individual.

We see parents who are on their third and more children where they never had issues with breastfeeding and now this new baby is truly struggling. Take this as an encouragement that even if one child has tie(s) it doesn’t destine your next child(ren) to also have issues. With every aspect of the human body, there are multiple factors that aid or inhibit proper function. The idea that a tie correction can magically overnight fix a feeding issue couldn’t be further from the truth. A team of healthcare professionals working in collaboration is vital for a successful breastfeeding journey if issues present. A certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), myofacial specialist, chiropractor, and occupational or physical therapist can all provide invaluable expertise in the before and after care of a baby with feeding complications. As with any new skill, successful breastfeeding and feeding take time, patience, and commitment from both baby and parents. 

Not all babies with feeding issues have ties.

If ties are present, feeding can be compromised for a number of reasons. This is why an evaluation by a doctor who is qualified and certified to diagnose the severity of ties is vital before any correction takes place. All babies are different and the lack of ability to latch can be caused by weakness of muscles, the fact that they are learning a new skill, and by restriction of movement by the tongue, lip, and muscles in the mouth and jaw. Difficulties with feeding can also be a true anatomical malformation that would need to be addressed by a surgeon. To categorize all infants who struggle to successfully latch and feed into one category is not only inaccurate, but harmful. 

It is always up to the parent if they want to have the procedure completed.

Parents of infants always have the autonomy to decide what is best for their child. Even if the baby is diagnosed with a severe tongue, lip, or cheek tie, the parents always have the right to decide to do nothing. Parents ask us how necessary the procedure is and this is not a cookie cutter answer. Depending on how severe the tie(s) present determines how impactful the surgery will be in aiding in better feeding. This is always discussed with the parents as every baby will recover from the procedure in their own way and time. 

*https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/18/health/tongue-tie-research-breastfeeding.html