If your baby is fighting to latch or your toddler’s speech has you asking questions, you may have run into the word frenectomy and felt a little uneasy. Here is the calm version. A frenectomy is a quick, gentle release of a small band of tissue in the mouth so the lip or tongue can move the way it should. It is not a scary surgery, and for most children it takes only a few minutes from start to finish. At Growing Grins Pediatric Dentistry in Newnan, GA, board-certified pediatric dentist Dr. Ashlee Turner-Lee performs these releases for infants through teens, and most parents leave surprised by how simple it really was. Dr. Ashlee is so committed to supporting families during the infant stage that she was led to become a Certified Lactation Counselor. This allows her to better help mothers and babies experiencing breastfeeding and bottle feeding difficulties.

This Article Will Address

• What a frenectomy is and the job it actually does
• How a frenectomy differs from a frenotomy
• Whether a frenectomy and a tongue tie release are the same thing
• The way this small procedure can make feeding easier for your baby

What Is a Frenectomy?

A frenectomy is the release of a frenum, the thin cord of tissue that anchors the lip, tongue, or cheek inside the mouth. Everyone has these small folds, and most cause no trouble at all. They only become a concern when one is too tight, too short, or attached in a way that limits movement. When that happens, the tongue cannot lift or the lip cannot lift and flange, and everyday things like feeding start to feel like work. Releasing the tissue frees the lip or tongue to move, stretch, and reach normally. This is the heart of the lip and tongue tie releases we provide for every pediatric age, from newborns to older kids.

The Ties Parents Ask About Most

The word frenectomy covers a few different releases, depending on which band is causing the restriction:

• Tongue tie, where the band under the tongue is short or attached too close to the tip
• Lip tie, where the upper or lower lip is anchored low and tightly to the gum
• Cheek tie, a less common band along the inside of the cheek that can pull on the gums

Each one is evaluated on its own, because a tie only matters if it is actually getting in your child’s way.

What Does a Frenectomy Actually Do?

A frenectomy restores free movement to the lip or tongue so your child can feed, speak, and swallow without a physical restriction holding them back. When the band under the tongue is too tight, the tongue cannot rise to the roof of the mouth, which is a motion babies rely on to nurse and older kids rely on to form sound, chew and swallow food properly, and properly rest their tongues in the roof of their mouths which aids in promoting nasal breathing and not mouth breathing. When the upper lip is tethered too low, it cannot flare out for a good seal around a breast or bottle nipple. Freeing that tissue tends to change daily life in a few clear ways:

• A wider, more comfortable range of motion for the tongue and lip
• An easier, deeper latch during nursing or bottle feeding
• Less strain that can lead to gas, fussiness, or slow weight gain
• More room for clear sounds as speech develops

The goal is never to change who your child is. It is simply to remove a small barrier so their mouth can do what it was built to do, comfortably and on its own.

What Is the Difference Between a Frenectomy and a Frenotomy?

The difference comes down to how much tissue is addressed. A frenotomy is a simple division of the frenum, often used for a thin membrane in a young infant, where a single release opens up the movement right away. A frenectomy is a more complete release of the band, which helps when the tissue is thick, wide, or wrapped deeper into the muscle. Growing Grins is built around, kid-friendly care, so Dr. Ashlee walks you through the entire procedure, what she will use, and what to expect before anything begins, always in plain language and with zero pressure.

Is a Frenectomy the Same Thing as a Tongue Tie Release?

Yes, a tongue tie release is a frenectomy, but not every frenectomy is a tongue tie release. A tongue tie release frees the band under the tongue specifically. That same type of procedure can also correct a lip tie, where the upper or lower lip is tethered, or a cheek tie. So a tongue tie release is one kind of frenectomy, named for the exact tissue being freed, while frenectomy is the broader term for any of these releases. This distinction matters because the right diagnosis drives the right release, and treating the wrong tissue helps no one. Since Dr. Ashlee is also a Certified Lactation Counselor, she reads the whole feeding picture rather than the tissue alone. She may watch a feed, check how the tongue lifts, and ask about your day-to-day routine, which helps families understand whether a release is truly the answer or whether something else is going on. That honest, no-jargon approach is a big part of how we build trust with parents.

How Does a Frenectomy Help My Baby Feed?

A frenectomy helps your baby feed by freeing the tongue and lip to latch, seal, and move milk efficiently. A restricted tongue often means a shallow latch, clicking sounds, milk dribbling out at the corners, long tiring feeds, and a baby who seems hungry again far too soon. When the tongue can finally lift and cup properly, feeding usually becomes calmer for everyone. Parents often notice several changes:

• A deeper latch that stays comfortable for the nursing parent
• Stronger, more effective suckling with less swallowed air
• Shorter, calmer feeds and steadier weight gain over time
• Relief from cracked or sore nipples caused by a poor seal

For our youngest patients, we pair the release with a lactation-centered plan, and many of these babies are seen as part of our infant dental care visits. Older children can benefit too, with easier eating and clearer speech once the tongue moves freely.

What Recovery Usually Looks Like

Recovery from a frenectomy is typically mild and short. Babies can often nurse or take a bottle right away, which is comforting and helps them settle. Dr. Ashlee will show you a few simple stretches to keep the area open while it heals, and she will explain what is normal in the first several days. Any tenderness tends to fade quickly, and our team stays available to answer questions so you never feel like you are figuring it out alone. For families who want a quick check-in without another trip, we also offer telehealth consultations, which can be reassuring in those first few days.

Ask Dr. Ashlee About a Frenectomy for Your Child

If any of this sounds like your little one, we would love to help. Growing Grins Pediatric Dentistry is open and welcoming new families across Newnan, and a frenectomy evaluation with Dr. Ashlee is a calm, first step. Explore our full range of children’s dental services, then schedule your child’s visit by phone, email, or online. Same-day appointments are available when feeding or comfort simply cannot wait.

Sources

• Cleveland Clinic: Frenotomy (Tongue-Tie Procedure in Infants)
• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry: Policy on Management of the Frenulum in Pediatric Patients
• Cleveland Clinic: Tongue-Tie (Ankyloglossia)