Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
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Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
A frenectomy in Phoenix, AZ, is a quick, gentle procedure that releases a tight or short band of tissue, called a frenulum, that restricts movement of the tongue or lip. For infants, that restriction can make breastfeeding painful and difficult. For older children and adults, it can affect speech, oral hygiene, and comfort in ways that often go unrecognized for years. At 24th Street Dental, we identify and release these restrictions at any age, before they shape a lifetime of workarounds.
Our specialist-led team uses modern laser technology to release these restrictions with minimal bleeding and a fast return to normal function. This holds whether the patient is a newborn or an adult who has lived with the restriction their entire life.
What a frenectomy is comes down to a simple idea: releasing tissue that is too tight to allow normal movement. Two frenula commonly cause problems, and understanding tongue-tie vs. lip-tie helps explain why symptoms can look different depending on which one is involved.
Tongue-tie, medically called “ankyloglossia,” happens when the band of tissue under the tongue is too short or too tight, limiting how far the tongue can move and lift. A lip tie involves the tissue connecting the upper lip to the gums, and when it is too tight, it can restrict how the lip flanges outward, particularly during feeding.
Symptoms in children and adults show up differently depending on age, though the underlying restriction is the same.
A tongue-tie or lip-tie can touch several areas of daily life at once, often in ways parents do not connect back to the same underlying restriction. Here is how each concern typically shows up:
Laser frenectomy has largely replaced the traditional scalpel-and-sutures approach, and the benefits are well documented. Here is what that shift actually means for patients:
Recovery from this procedure is generally straightforward, though what that looks like varies a bit by age. Here is what to expect:
Breastfeeding typically resumes within the same day, often with improved latch noticeable almost immediately after the tissue is released.
Mild soreness for a few days is common and manageable with over-the-counter pain relief, if needed.
Gentle stretching exercises are often recommended during healing to prevent the tissue from reattaching too tightly as it closes.
Our team walks every patient or parent through exactly how and when to do these exercises and what would warrant a call to our office.
Most patients, regardless of age, are back to their normal eating, speaking, and feeding routines well within a week of treatment.
Dr. Stephen Folson brings a depth of soft tissue expertise to this procedure that goes beyond what a general dentist typically offers. Here is what that means for your care:
Conveniently located in the Biltmore area of Phoenix, 24th Street Dental serves patients from Biltmore, Arcadia, Paradise Valley, Camelback East, and Scottsdale. Most patients reach our office within 10–20 minutes, making advanced dental care and wellness-focused treatments easily accessible throughout the Phoenix metro area.
Families trust us with this procedure at every age, from newborns to adults. Here is what sets our care apart:
Dr. Folson’s soft tissue expertise sits alongside our full specialty team, so no case requires an outside referral.
Weighted blankets, a calm environment, and gentle numbing options help both children and adults feel at ease.
Our laser technology allows for precise, minimally invasive tissue release with less bleeding and discomfort than traditional methods.
Five separate financing providers help make treatment affordable, regardless of your budget or credit history.
A tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, happens when the band of tissue under the tongue is too short or tight, restricting how far the tongue can move. It is present from birth and can affect feeding, speech, and comfort depending on its severity.
Most patients experience minimal discomfort, especially with laser treatment, since numbing is used beforehand and the laser itself causes less trauma than a scalpel. Any soreness afterward is typically mild and resolves within a few days.
This procedure is usually completed in just a few minutes, making it one of the quickest we perform. Most patients are back to normal activity the same day.
Yes, adults who were never treated as children can still benefit from this procedure, often noticing improved comfort with eating, speech, or oral hygiene afterward. Age alone does not disqualify anyone from treatment.
Infants often resume breastfeeding the same day, while older children and adults may have mild soreness for a few days. Following the recommended stretching exercises during healing helps ensure the best long-term outcome.
A quick laser revision can unlock easier feeding, clearer speech development, and better long-term comfort for patients of any age. The sooner a restriction is addressed, the sooner normal function can take over.
