Recovery After Release: How Long Will My Child Need to Heal From a Frenectomy?  

After talking with your child’s dentist about their upcoming frenectomy, you may feel more knowledgeable and prepared for the procedure, but how much do you know about the post-treatment healing process? While releasing the banded tissue is fairly quick and easy, recovery may take a little longer. Keep reading to learn what you can expect afterward and how long it will take for your little one to fully heal.

How Long Does Post-Frenectomy Recovery Take?

It is normal to take several weeks for the area beneath the tongue and/or behind the upper lip to fully heal after a frenectomy.

This timeframe is dependent on a few factors, though, such as:

• How the procedure is performed (traditional scalpel and sutures or soft tissue laser)
• The complexity of the lip or tongue-tie
• How well you abide by the aftercare instructions provided by your child’s dentist

What Should You Expect?

In the days following your child’s frenectomy, discomfort is normal. Babies can be fed immediately after the procedure.

The surgical site will likely appear white or yellow, but it will improve over several weeks, as the area narrows and begins to heal. Redness or irritation should lead you to call the specialist, as this may require additional attention.

What Aftercare Steps Are Required?

After your child’s frenectomy, you can expect to receive aftercare instructions to help with the recovery process. This information will typically include the following details to make sure your child doesn’t experience any complications or issues after surgery:

• Stretches: To prevent the tissues from bonding again, you’ll need to perform stretches on your baby or child’s mouth. They are quick and easy to perform and often painless. Just be sure your hands are clean.
• Pain Management: If your baby or child is uncomfortable, you can provide age-appropriate pain medication to alleviate any discomfort. Your baby may not want to nurse, but any fussiness should subside within a few days. Adults can expect soreness to dissipate over time with Tylenol or Advil.
• Additional Comfort: It can be helpful to provide your baby or child with additional comfort techniques, including a warm bath or skin-to-skin contact for infants. It may also be helpful to let your child engage in more playtime to keep them occupied and focused on something other than their mouth.

About the Author
Dr. Garcia-DeMartino is a lip and tongue-tie specialist in Phillipsburg. She became an expert in soft and hard tissue lasers after attending the International World Clinical Laser Institute. Now, she helps patients of all ages who live with a lip and tongue-tie. If you have a baby, child, or teenager struggling to eat, breathe, or speak, visit our website or call (908) 859-5260 to schedule an appointment.