Once upon a time, not all that long ago, all frenectomies were done surgically, typically involving scissors and stitches. Then lasers came along, a vast improvement for patients and practitioners alike: less invasive, quicker, and gentler.
For lasers, as we wrote before, do more than just cut. They support good, speedy healing. They help disinfect the site and support quick blood clotting. Their biostimulation of the tissue helps jumpstart the healing process. Many times, the child needs no stitches at all.
Because lasers are so precise, the results are also far more predictable than with surgical frenectomy.
Choosing the Best Laser for the Job
There are three main types of laser used in dentistry: diode, Er:YAG, and CO2. A diode laser cuts with a hot fiberoptic glass tip, while Er:YAG and CO2 lasers cut with infrared light, just at different wavelengths and using different mediums. For Er:YAG, light is intensified by excited molecules of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet; for CO2, carbon dioxide is used.
CO2 lasers are preferred for most frenectomies, as they’re especially good at both cutting and quickly stimulating the kind of clotting that’s essential for quick, uneventful healing.
While there are many makes of CO2 lasers available, none can beat the results Dr. Evy can deliver with her newest laser device, the LightScalpel. Its flexible fibers and pen-like handpiece make it much more maneuverable, allowing for even greater precision than other lasers. It handles almost like a thin paintbrush as she gently passes it over the tissue.
With the LightScalpel, tongue tie and lip tie release can be done safely and quickly with predictable results. The laser is precise, and the procedure is quick, with very minimal to no bleeding during and afterwards. There’s less discomfort, less swelling, and less risk of infection or scarring. Recovery is much speedier.
Best of all, Dr. Evy has found that with LightScalpel procedures, babies remain much calmer throughout the treatment. With earlier generations of lasers, some infants would be almost inconsolable immediately after their frenectomy. Seldom is there the sight of tears or sound of cries following tongue tie or lip tie release with the LightScalpel.
Of course, with a treatment that goes faster than the time it takes to grab a cup of coffee next door, there’s still plenty of time for holding and cuddling while we wait for their parents to return, coffee in hand. Dr. Evy considers this one of the coolest parts and biggest blessings of helping infants get the healthiest, happiest start in life!
