Lingual Frenectomy
Breastfeeding Help for Newborns
A frenum (also called frenulum) is a band of tissue that connects or holds down a part of the body such as the tongue, lip, or cheeks. The band of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth is called the lingual frenum, while the band connecting the lip to the gum in front of the teeth is called the labial frenum.
Occasionally a frenum might be exceptionally short, thick, or tight, or may extend too far down along the tongue or the gum. When a frenum is positioned in such a way as to interfere with the normal alignment of teeth, speech or constricts the movement of the tongue or lips, it can be removed with a very simple surgery called a frenectomy.
Typically, a frenectomy is performed with a scalpel and sutures in a hospital setting. However, when conducted with a laser, the surgery tends to cause very little bleeding, does not require sutures, and often results in very little discomfort after the procedure. A water laser can also be used to eliminate the needs for IV sedation or general anesthesia in a hospital setting.
This procedure is oftentimes performed on newborns that are having difficulty nursing due to a "tight" frenum, which prohibits their lips from flanging and maintaining a proper latch. Newborns also may have a "tight" frenum under the tongue prohibiting them from being able to transfer milk from the breast to swallow. Newborns treated can nurse immediately and moms notice a very significant difference both in the quantity that the newborn consumes as well as their personal comfort while nursing.
It is important to remember that breastfeeding should never be painful.