Charlottesville Frenectomy Dentist | Children’s Dentistry

fear and dental anxiety dentist Children's Dentistry of Charlottesville

Call (434) 817-1817 to schedule an appointment for your child.

Simple and Safe Frenectomy Procedures at Children’s Dentistry of Charlottesville

Many children have issues with tongue ties and/or lip ties. These conditions arise from a strong muscular attachment of the tongue or upper lip to the alveolar bone holding the teeth. 

These strong attachments cause problems ranging from cosmetic issues, such as a gap between the upper teeth, to developmental issues, such as difficulty with breastfeeding and speech, for infants and toddlers. Fortunately, tongue and lip ties can be treated with a simple procedure called a frenectomy that reshapes the attachment to the bone.

At Children’s Dentistry of Charlottesville, we offer simple and safe frenectomies right here in our office. Contact us today to learn if your child requires a frenectomy procedure.

Potential dental complications from tongue ties and/or lip ties:

  • Dental caries, a bacterial disease process causing cavities
  • Pain or bleeding when brushing teeth or flossing, further exacerbating the potential cavity formation process

“I’ve been taking my daughter here since she was little! All of the staff here are great with kids. Today she had to get her first cavity filled and was super anxious but the staff made her feel at ease and she did great!”

– Melissa M.

Keep your child’s teeth healthy through regular dental cleanings and exams.

We will most commonly diagnose a tongue or lip tie at your child’s routine oral exam and cleaning, or through a recommendation from a pediatrician or lactation specialist. If your child hasn’t been to the dentist recently, get in touch to schedule a dental cleaning and exam.

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Frenectomies at Children’s Dentistry of Charlottesville

A frenectomy can be completed in our office in minutes with local anesthesia and simple surgical instruments. It can also be performed with topical anesthesia and a special laser. The procedure recontours the muscular attachment to allow for greater range of motion for the lip or tongue. The recontouring and improved range of motion help alleviate any symptoms your child is experiencing.

This simple procedure can be completed in just minutes. The recovery process is straightforward as well. Your doctor and dental team will review after-care instructions with you before you go home.

We Accept Most Insurance & Medicaid

We believe every child should have access to the best dental care possible. We proudly accept Medicaid and many other insurance plans, including those from:

  • Anthem
  • Metlife
  • Guardian
  • United Concordia
  • Delta Dental
  • Cigna

Please note: Unfortunately many insurances do not cover frenectomy procedures, so this may be an out of pocket expense unless you obtain a referral from your child’s pediatrician for the procedure. 

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Our dentists are compassionate, caring, gentle, empathetic, and sensitive to the needs of every child.

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Call (434) 817-1817 to Schedule Your Child’s Frenectomy Appointment

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Frenectomy FAQ

What are common signs that a child needs a frenectomy?

Common signs of a tongue or lip tie and that your child might need frenectomy treatment include…

  • A hard time breastfeeding, eating, and/or chewing 
  • Trouble speaking or other speech impediments 
  • Gap between upper 2 teeth
  • Heavy open mouth breathing
  • Gum recession
  • Bleeding or pain while brushing teeth

What is the common age range for a frenectomy?

Generally, lip or tongue ties are detected in infancy, and frenectomies are performed when discovered. It is possible that some older children might develop lip or tongue tie, or might not be detected as an infant.

Can my child receive general anesthetic for frenectomy treatment?

Frenectomies are a simple and quick procedure that takes just a few minutes to complete, generally just necessitating local anesthesia. In some cases for younger infants or special circumstances, general anesthesia can be used for treatment.

What is the treatment process for an infant who is having difficulty breastfeeding?

When treating an infant who is having difficulty with breastfeeding, we’ll generally swaddle your child and perform the procedure lap to lap with topical anesthesia. This method generally takes less than 5-10 minutes.

My child has special needs and has trouble at the dentist. Can you still perform a frenectomy?

Our dentists have experience with and enjoy working with children who have special needs, including kids with down syndrome, cerebral palsy, children on the autism spectrum, and those who suffer from dental anxiety.

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Children’s Dentistry of Charlottesville

Address: 1470 Pantops Mountain Pl Ste 1 Charlottesville, VA 22911 (Click for Directions)

Hours: Mon-Thur: 8AM-5PM | Fri: 8AM-4PM

Phone: (434) 260-6836

Fax: (434) 817-1819

Email: email@childrensdentistryofcharlottesville.com