Frenectomy (Tongue-Tie & Lip-Tie Release)

There is no single right age. A frenectomy can be performed safely for children and adults alike, and the better question is usually not how old a patient is but whether the frenum is actually causing a problem. A frenum that is too tight or too thick can interfere with speech, feeding, tongue movement, or gum health at any stage of life.

With children, a frenectomy is often recommended to ease speech difficulties caused by a tongue-tie, or to go alongside orthodontic treatment. With adults, it more commonly addresses gum recession or restricted tongue movement that has become bothersome over time. Because the needs differ so much by age, we tailor the timing and approach to each patient rather than following a fixed rule.

A frenectomy is a minor procedure, and comfort is well managed. Because it is done under local anesthesia, there is minimal pain during treatment itself, for both children and adults. The procedure is also quick, which keeps the whole experience easy, especially for younger patients.

Afterward, most people have only mild soreness at the site for a day or two. A few simple steps keep recovery comfortable:

• Over-the-counter pain medication as needed for any soreness
• Soft foods for the first few days while the area heals
• Gentle warm salt-water rinses to keep the site clean

If we have recommended tongue or lip exercises, keeping up with them during healing supports the best result. Most patients are back to normal function within a few days.

It can help significantly when the speech difficulty is genuinely tied to a restricted frenum. If a tight lingual frenum is limiting how freely your child's tongue can move, a frenectomy releases that restriction and can markedly improve tongue mobility, which is the physical foundation many speech sounds depend on.

It is worth setting expectations, though: a frenectomy removes the physical barrier, but it does not by itself retrain speech patterns that have already formed around the restriction. For that reason, we often recommend following the procedure with speech therapy, so your child can learn to use their newly freed tongue and proper speech patterns can take hold. The two work best together.

On its own, a frenectomy does not close a gap, but it often plays an important supporting role. When a thick labial frenum extends down between the two front teeth, it can physically hold them apart and keep a gap from closing, or pull it back open after it has been corrected. Removing that band of tissue clears the obstacle that is standing in the way.

For that reason, a frenectomy is commonly done together with orthodontic treatment such as braces or aligners. The orthodontics actually move the teeth together, while the frenectomy ensures the tissue no longer forces them apart, so the gap stays closed for good. The timing of the two is coordinated to your specific case.

A frenectomy is a short procedure. Most are completed in less than 30 minutes, and that includes the time to numb the area beforehand. The release of the frenum itself takes only a few minutes once everything is ready, which is part of what makes it such a manageable treatment, even for children.

Recovery moves quickly too. Most patients are back to their normal activities within a day or two, with only minor soreness to manage in the meantime. For something that can resolve a long-standing issue with speech, gum recession, or tongue movement, a frenectomy asks very little time in return.

When a frenectomy is done properly, the results are permanent, and the frenum growing back is uncommon. The procedure releases or removes the restrictive band of tissue, and in the great majority of cases that tissue does not reform in a way that recreates the original problem.

Healing well plays a part in that lasting result. If we have recommended tongue or lip exercises, keeping up with them during the healing period helps the tissue settle into its new, freer position and supports the best long-term outcome. For young children especially, those simple exercises are a small effort that helps a frenectomy hold for life.

Often, yes. Many dental and medical insurance plans cover a frenectomy when it is medically necessary, such as when it is needed to address a speech issue, a feeding difficulty, or gum recession caused by a frenum pulling on the tissue. Because it can fall under either dental or medical coverage, it is worth checking both.

Coverage does vary from plan to plan, so we take the guesswork out of it. Before treatment begins, we verify your benefits and provide a clear cost estimate, so you know what to expect. See our financing page for payment options.