How a Frenectomy Can Correct Your Child’s Speech Patterns

A frenectomy removes soft tissue from your child’s mouth, usually tissue that’s either under the tongue or between the lips and the gums.

This tissue, known as a frenulum, is banded together and it can impact how your child speaks as they start developing their personal cadence and patterns. Here, we’’ll look at how a simple procedure can give your child more confidence to speak up as they grow up.

A Closer Look at Speech

The frenulum ultimately restricts how your child moves their tongue and lips. Sometimes called a tongue-tie in North Kansas City, MO, a frenectomy gives back the child’s range of motion, which is a must for both hard consonants and diphthongs alike.

A frenectomy gives your child the confidence to experiment with their articulation, allowing them to settle on speech patterns that work for them.

How Does the Procedure Work?

This ultimately depends on the type of frenulum that your child has. If your child’s tissue is located between the mouth and lower jaw, the practitioner will aim to reduce the size of the tissue. If the tissue is located between the upper lip and the gums, they can either remove or reduce the size of the tissue.

How Old Does My Child Need to Be?

A frenectomy is an extremely common (and safe!) surgery that can be done at any age — even if the child is only a day old. Your pediatrician or dentist in North Kansas City, MO can tell you more about when to schedule the service.

Tongue-Tied Treatments in North Kansas City, MO

If you’re looking for a skilled practitioner to perform your child’s frenectomy, contact the family-friendly dentists at NKC Dental today!