Feeding improved for infants
Releasing a restrictive tie often improves latch and reduces maternal pain within days.
Treatment
Tongue-Tie & Frenectomies
Assessment and release of restrictive tongue and lip ties in infants, children and adults: a short procedure that can transform feeding, speech and comfort.
Overview
Tongue-Tie & Frenectomies at Monaco Dentistry
A frenum is the small band of tissue tethering the tongue to the floor of the mouth, or the lip to the gum. When it is short or tight it restricts movement, and the consequences are real: painful or ineffective breastfeeding, a baby who cannot latch, a child who struggles with certain sounds, gum recession behind the lower front teeth, or an adult who cannot clear food from their teeth. A frenectomy releases that restriction, and it is a genuinely quick procedure.
Book a tongue-tie & frenectomies consultation
Why it matters
What tongue-tie & frenectomies gives you.
Better tongue mobility
Range of movement needed for speech sounds, chewing and clearing food from the teeth.
Gum recession prevented
A tight lower lip frenum pulls on the gum behind the front teeth and drives recession there.
Fast and well tolerated
The release itself takes minutes under local anaesthetic, with straightforward aftercare.
How it works
What to expect, step by step.
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Functional assessment
We assess what the tongue or lip can actually do, not just how the tissue looks. The restriction has to matter.
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Decide together
Not every visible tie needs releasing. If it is not restricting function, we say so and leave it alone.
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The release
A short procedure under local anaesthetic, or topical for very young infants.
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Aftercare and exercises
Stretches and, for infants, feeding support. The exercises are what stop it reattaching, so they matter.
Who it's for
Is this you?
Infants with latch difficulty or maternal nipple pain, toddlers with restricted tongue movement, children with certain speech sound difficulties, and adults with recession behind the lower incisors or limited tongue mobility.
Patient stories
What patients say.
“Feeding had been painful for five weeks. The assessment was thorough and honest, the release took minutes, and it was noticeably better within days.”
“My son's speech therapist suggested an assessment. It was explained clearly, including that it might not be the whole answer, which it turned out to be part of.”
Questions
Tongue-Tie & Frenectomies: your questions answered.
How do I know if my baby actually has a tongue-tie?
Function is the test, not appearance. Difficulty latching, slipping off the breast, clicking while feeding, poor weight gain and significant maternal pain are the signals. Many visible frenums restrict nothing at all, so we assess movement before recommending anything.
Does a frenectomy hurt?
The release takes only a few minutes and is done with local anaesthetic, or topical anaesthetic in very young infants. Discomfort afterwards is mild and short-lived; infants can usually feed immediately, which is often the first sign it worked.
Will the tie grow back?
It can reattach if the post-operative stretches are not done, which is why we teach them carefully and follow up. Doing the exercises for the recommended period is the single biggest factor in a lasting result.
Is it worth doing in an adult?
Sometimes, yes, particularly where a tight lower lip frenum is driving gum recession, or where restricted tongue movement is causing hygiene or speech difficulty. It is a smaller decision than most adults assume.
Also available
Other treatments at the practice.
Book an appointment
Book a tongue-tie & frenectomies consultation
If feeding, speech or tongue movement is restricted, book an assessment: function first, treatment only if it is warranted.