CO2 Laser Lip/Tongue Tie Correction

CO2 Laser Frenectomy Treatment in Potomac, MD

Here at Dentistry for Children Potomac, we believe in providing compassionate, expert pediatric dental care from day one. Our board-certified pediatric dentist, Dr. Eric, is focused on your child’s smile and is laser-certified to deliver safe, precise frenectomy treatment using innovative CO2 laser technology.

A frenectomy is the procedure that corrects a tongue or lip tie. A tongue tie occurs when the small, connective tissue between the tongue and the floor of the mouth is too tightly tethered, and a lip tie occurs when the small, connective tissue between the lip and the gums is connected too short and tight. This shortened tissue limits the range of motion of your child’s mouth or tongue and can affect nursing, sleeping, and potentially speaking. A frenectomy can be beneficial for babies with tongue or lip ties to relieve these issues.

About the Procedure

Once a tongue or lip tie has been discovered, Dr. Eric will work closely with your lactation consultant, pediatrician, and functional maxillofacial specialist to develop the best approach to treatment for your child. The frenectomy will be performed by Dr. Eric right here in our office, using the innovative LightScalpel® CO2 laser.

CO2 laser treatment is a state-of-the-art approach to frenectomies and provides a more comfortable experience for your child during lip or tongue tie correction treatment. Using the LightScalpel® laser, Dr. Eric will gently release the tethered connective tissue with a precise incision created by the laser. Laser correction can also help promote healing of the incision and sterilize the area, leading to a faster recovery.

Does My Child Need a Frenectomy?

Correcting a tongue or lip tie can have many benefits for even the littlest of patients. If you think your child may have a tongue or lip tie, check out our quiz below!

1. Does your child experience any of the following sleep issues?
   a. Snoring
   b. Sleeping with mouth open
   c. Kicks and flails around at night
   d. Wakes easily and often
2. Does your child experience any of the following nursing/bottle feeding issues?
   a. Shallow latch or difficulty latching
   b. Poor weight gain
   c. Clicking or sputtering when eating
   d. Reflux or spitting up
3. Does your child experience any of the following other issues?
   a. Strong gag reflex
   b. Mouth breathing during the day
   c. Constipation
   d. Issues with swallowing 

If you answered yes to any of the answers above, schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric at Dentistry for Children Potomac today! We’re here to help our patients and parents have a better quality of life. Your child’s lifetime of healthy smiles starts here!