Frenectomy, Tongue Tie & Lip Tie Release in Orland Park, IL
What Is a Frenectomy?
A frenectomy is a simple treatment that releases a tight or restrictive band of tissue — called a frenum — in the mouth. You have several frenums: one connects your tongue to the floor of your mouth, and others connect your lips and cheeks to your gums.
When a frenum is too tight or too short, it can restrict movement. In infants, this often means difficulty breastfeeding or bottle feeding. In children and adults, a restricted frenum can affect speech, breathing, jaw development, sleep quality, and even posture.
At Inspire Dental Wellness, we perform frenectomies using the LightScalpel CO2 laser — a precise, gentle approach that means less discomfort, minimal bleeding, and faster recovery compared to traditional methods. Whether your newborn is struggling to latch or you’re an adult dealing with the effects of a lifelong tongue restriction, we’re here to help.
What Is a Tongue Tie?
A tongue tie (ankyloglossia) is a restrictive band of tissue — the lingual frenum — that tethers the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. When the tie is too tight or too short, it limits how far the tongue can lift, extend, or move side to side. Tongue ties can be anterior (visible at or near the tip of the tongue) or posterior (deeper and harder to see — often missed on routine exams). Either type can affect feeding, speech, airway, and jaw development, and both respond well to a gentle laser release.
What Is a Lip Tie?
A lip tie is a similar kind of restriction, but it affects the labial frenum — the tissue connecting the upper or lower lip to the gums. A tight upper-lip tie can make it difficult for an infant to create a proper seal during feeding, and in children can leave a noticeable gap between the two front teeth. Lip ties and tongue ties often occur together, which is why we evaluate for both during every consultation.
Frenectomy Services at Every Stage of Life
Frenectomy needs look very different at three stages of life. An infant who can’t latch, a school-age child stuck in speech therapy without progress, and an adult dealing with TMJ pain and neck tension are all dealing with a restricted frenum – but the signs, the treatment plan, and the rehabilitation that follows are distinct. Here’s how we approach each.
Infant Frenectomy
Frenectomy for Children
Adult Frenectomy
Why Families Choose Us for Tongue Tie Release
LightScalpel CO2 Laser Technology
Unlike traditional frenectomies that use scissors or a scalpel, we use the LightScalpel CO2 laser for every frenectomy we perform. The laser allows for an incredibly precise release with minimal bleeding, reduced swelling, and a faster, more comfortable recovery. For infants, this means the treatment takes just minutes and many babies can nurse immediately afterward.
A Whole-Patient Wellness Approach
A frenectomy isn’t just about cutting tissue – it’s about restoring function. At Inspire Dental Wellness, we look at how a tongue or lip restriction affects your overall wellness: feeding, breathing, sleep, posture, and jaw development. We coordinate with lactation consultants, myofunctional therapists, speech pathologists, and bodyworkers to ensure lasting results, not just a quick snip.
Prepared for Success, Not Just Speed
A frenectomy is a small treatment with a big responsibility – if the surrounding muscles and tissue aren’t ready, the release can reattach or the functional gains won’t hold. That’s why we don’t always release at the first visit, especially for patients over a year old. We may recommend a short course of myofunctional therapy, bodywork, or physical therapy before the procedure to prepare the muscles and fascia for what comes next, and we want parents fully comfortable with the post-release stretching routine before we begin. We know this can feel slow when you’re ready for relief – many practices release same-day as a convenience, but in Dr. Erica’s experience, patients who prepare properly see better long-term outcomes with less risk of reattachment or a subpar result.
Dr. Erica’s Personal Experience
Dr. Erica hasn’t just studied frenectomies – she’s lived them as a patient, as a parent, and as a provider trained at the source. Her own journey started when chronic TMJ pain and tension led her to discover her tongue tie. She had it released as an adult and saw real benefit – but years of the body compensating around a tight tongue had layered tension into muscles and fascia that a simple release couldn’t fully unwind. She eventually traveled to The Breathe Institute and had a functional frenuloplasty performed by Dr. Soroush Zaghi. The change was immediate and measurable — we remeasured her afterward and she was a full inch taller, as the released fascia and restored tongue posture let her body stand the way it was meant to. When you’re short, an inch is a lot. That result moved her so much she went back to The Breathe Institute for formal training and certification in Dr. Zaghi’s functional frenuloplasty protocol, so she could bring the same approach to her own adult patients.
Both of her children were born with tongue ties, too. For her firstborn, a trusted colleague performed the release within the first month – as a new mom, Dr. Erica wasn’t emotionally ready to treat her own baby. By her second child, she was ready, and she performed his release herself just a few days after his birth. That combination – patient, parent, and provider trained at the source – is how she understands what you’re going through, because she’s been there from every angle.
Signs of Tongue Tie & Lip Tie
Signs in Infants & Children
- Difficulty latching or staying latched during breastfeeding
- Clicking sounds while feeding
- Poor weight gain or colic-like symptoms
- Gassiness or reflux after feeding
- Mouth breathing or snoring
- Speech delays or difficulty with certain sounds
- Picky eating or difficulty chewing
- Gap between front teeth (lip tie)
Signs in Adults
- TMJ pain, jaw clicking, or jaw tension
- Chronic neck and shoulder tightness
- Headaches or migraines
- Sleep apnea or snoring
- Difficulty sticking out or lifting the tongue
- Speech issues (lisping, mumbling, or avoiding certain words)
- Clenching or grinding teeth
- Forward head posture
If any of these sound familiar, a simple evaluation can determine whether a tongue or lip tie is contributing. Schedule a consultation and we’ll take a thorough look.
What to Expect During Your Frenectomy
1. Consultation & Evaluation
Your visit starts with a thorough assessment. For infants, we evaluate latch, tongue mobility, and lip function. For children and adults, we assess tongue range of motion, breathing patterns, and how the restriction may be affecting your daily life. We take our time — you’ll never feel rushed. At the end of the evaluation, we’ll tell you whether we recommend moving forward with the release or taking a preparation step first.
2. Preparation (When Needed)
For infants, we can often release the same day as the consultation. For older children and adults, we frequently recommend a preparation phase before the procedure — a few sessions of myofunctional therapy, bodywork, or physical therapy to loosen and activate the surrounding muscles, plus time for parents to get comfortable with the post-release stretches. Not every patient needs this step, but when we do recommend it, it’s because we’ve seen firsthand that releases done without proper preparation are more likely to reattach or fall short of the result you’re hoping for. We’ll help coordinate referrals to trusted providers in the Orland Park area.
3. The Treatment
Using the LightScalpel CO2 laser, the frenectomy itself takes just a few minutes. For infants, the treatment is quick and gentle — in our experience, many babies cry more from being held still than from the release itself. For older children and adults, we use a local anesthetic to ensure your comfort throughout.
4. Recovery & Aftercare
Recovery from a laser frenectomy is typically faster and more comfortable than traditional methods. We’ll walk you through stretching exercises and aftercare specific to your situation. For infants, you can usually nurse immediately after the treatment. Most adults return to normal activities within a day or two.
5. Follow-Up & Rehabilitation
A frenectomy is the beginning, not the end. We’ll schedule follow-up visits to monitor healing and progress. For optimal results, we often recommend continuing with a myofunctional therapist or speech pathologist after the release — the muscle retraining is what turns the procedure into lasting functional change.
Insurance and Financing
Your treatment is personal, and so is the path to pay for it. We build your care plan around your specific case, walk you through every option at your consultation, and make sure you’re comfortable with the plan before we begin.
Insurance, Handled by Our Team
A frenectomy is one of the more insurance-nuanced treatments we do – it can qualify under medical or dental coverage depending on the case, and getting the most out of your benefits often comes down to how it’s documented. Our team handles that legwork for you. We review your benefits before your appointment, coordinate with your plan, and prepare the medical documentation when that’s the right path. You focus on the care; we handle the paperwork.
CareCredit Financing
If you’d like to spread payments out, we partner with CareCredit, a third-party healthcare financing company that offers monthly payment plans for qualifying patients. Applications are handled directly with CareCredit.
HSA and FSA
A frenectomy is typically an HSA or FSA eligible expense, which gives families another tax-advantaged path to cover treatment.
Experienced Frenectomy Provider in Orland Park - Serving the Chicago Metro
Conveniently Located in Orland Park
Our dental office is located at 14512 John Humphrey Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462 – right off LaGrange Road, just minutes from Orland Square Mall. We’re easy to find and there’s plenty of free parking.
Because frenectomy is a specialized service, families travel to us from well beyond our neighborhood. We regularly see patients from Orland Park, Tinley Park, Homer Glen, Palos Park, Palos Heights, Mokena, Frankfort, and throughout the south suburbs, as well as families coming from Chicago, Naperville, and the greater Chicagoland area. We’ve also cared for infants, children, and adults whose families made the trip from southern Illinois, the South Bend area in Indiana, and across Michigan – they come to us because this isn’t the kind of care every practice can provide.
Office Hours: Monday: 9am – 6pm Tuesday: 9am – 5pm Wednesday: 8am – 5pm Thursday: 7am – 2pm
Frequently Asked Questions About Frenectomy
Q: What is a frenectomy?
A: A frenectomy is a treatment that releases a tight band of tissue (frenum) connecting the tongue, lip, or cheek to the gums or floor of the mouth. When this tissue is too restrictive, it can affect feeding, speech, breathing, and overall wellness.
Q: What's the difference between anterior and posterior tongue tie?
A: An anterior tongue tie is visible at or near the tip of the tongue — you’ll often see the classic “heart-shaped” notch when the tongue is lifted or extended. A posterior tongue tie sits further back, hidden under the mucosal tissue at the base of the tongue, and can be missed on routine exams. Posterior ties are just as capable of restricting movement and causing feeding, speech, and airway issues. We evaluate for both during every consultation, including a functional assessment of how the tongue actually moves.
Q: Does a frenectomy hurt?
A: We use the LightScalpel CO2 laser, which is designed for your comfort. For infants, the treatment takes just minutes and most babies can nurse immediately afterward. For children and adults, we use a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable throughout. Most patients describe recovery as much easier than expected.
Q: Will my frenectomy be done at the first appointment?
A: Sometimes, but not always — and that’s intentional. For infants, we can often release the same day as the consultation. For older children and adults, we frequently recommend a preparation phase first: a few sessions of myofunctional therapy, bodywork, or physical therapy to ready the surrounding muscles, plus time for parents to get comfortable with the post-release stretches. We know this can feel slow when you’re ready for relief. Many practices release same-day as a convenience, but in Dr. Erica’s experience, releases done without proper preparation are more likely to reattach or produce a less-than-expected result. Taking this extra step is how we set you up for lasting change, not just a quick procedure.
Q: How long does a frenectomy take?
A: The laser release itself typically takes just a few minutes. Your full appointment — including evaluation, the treatment, and aftercare instructions — is usually about 30 to 45 minutes.
Q: Is a frenectomy covered by insurance?
A: Many plans do cover frenectomy, particularly when it’s medically necessary — such as for an infant with feeding difficulties. Coverage varies by plan, so we’ll check your specific benefits and let you know what to expect before we begin.
Q: What is the recovery time after a frenectomy?
A: With our laser approach, recovery is typically faster than traditional methods. Most infants can feed immediately after the treatment. Adults usually return to normal activities within a day or two. We’ll provide specific stretching exercises and aftercare instructions tailored to your situation.
Q: What's the difference between a frenectomy and a frenuloplasty?
A: A frenectomy removes restrictive tissue. A functional frenuloplasty is more comprehensive — it releases the tissue and includes structured rehabilitation to restore proper tongue posture and range of motion, typically through myofunctional therapy before and after. For adults, we often take the frenuloplasty approach because after decades of the body compensating around a tongue tie, a simple release alone often isn’t enough to unwind the layered tension in the muscles and fascia. Dr. Erica’s own experience is a clear example: her adult tongue tie release helped, but it was a functional frenuloplasty performed by Dr. Soroush Zaghi at The Breathe Institute that delivered the lasting change she was seeking — to the point she measured an inch taller afterward. She later trained and became certified at The Breathe Institute so she could bring the same protocol to her adult patients.
Q: At what age can a frenectomy be performed?
A: We perform frenectomies on patients of all ages — from newborns just a few days old to adults. For infants, earlier is often better, especially when feeding is affected. For adults, it’s never too late to address a tongue restriction.
Q: Do you treat lip ties as well as tongue ties?
A: Yes. We treat both tongue ties (lingual frenectomy) and lip ties (labial frenectomy) using the same gentle laser approach. In many cases, tongue and lip ties occur together, and we’ll evaluate both during your consultation.
Ready to Find Out if a Frenectomy Is Right for You?
Dr. Erica Zolnierczyk is a licensed general dentist in the state of Illinois providing frenectomy, frenuloplasty and tongue tie release services. She is not an oral surgeon or periodontist.