September 09, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –
Maple Grove Pediatric Dentistry treats tongue-ties and lip-ties as conditions that call for an evaluation first and a procedure second, not the other way around. Both are forms of what dentists call tethered oral tissue, caused by a frenulum, a small band of connective tissue under the tongue or behind the upper lip, that is tighter or thicker than it should be and restricts normal movement. When a frenectomy is warranted, Dr. Matthew Scribbins performs the procedure by releasing that band of tissue, a fairly quick step that restores a fuller range of motion to the tongue or lip.
The condition, known clinically as ankyloglossia when it involves the tongue, can interfere with an infant’s ability to latch during breastfeeding, and in older children it can affect speech articulation or contribute to a gap between the front teeth. Not every child with a tight frenulum needs surgery, though, and the decision is rarely as simple as it might first appear. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s 2022 policy on frenulum management notes that other causes are more common than ankyloglossia when infants have trouble breastfeeding, and that while releasing a tied frenulum can help some infants nurse more easily, not every infant with the condition requires the procedure. A broader evaluation, sometimes involving a pediatrician or lactation consultant alongside the dentist, is generally the more useful first step than jumping straight to a snip.
That caution reflects a wider shift in how the medical community talks about tongue-tie. A 2024 clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics pointed to a sharp rise in ankyloglossia diagnoses over the past two decades and cautioned that frenotomy procedures may be performed more often than the evidence supports, particularly when breastfeeding difficulties have other explanations. None of that means the procedure lacks value. It means the decision benefits from an actual exam rather than an assumption based on how a frenulum looks at a glance.
At Maple Grove Pediatric Dentistry, frenectomies in Maple Grove, MN are performed only after that kind of assessment, looking at how the tongue or lip actually moves and functions, not just at the tissue itself. When a release is recommended, the procedure itself is brief. The frenulum is numbed, then divided, and most children need only a short recovery period involving basic aftercare instructions and, occasionally, simple stretching exercises to keep the tissue from reattaching too tightly as it heals.
Parents researching frenectomies in Maple Grove, MN often arrive with a mix of information from pediatricians, lactation consultants, and social media, not all of it consistent. Sorting through that is part of what the initial visit is for. Dr. Scribbins reviews feeding history for infants, or speech and bite concerns for older children, before recommending any procedure, treating the frenectomy as one possible outcome of an evaluation rather than the default answer to a tight frenulum.
Families weighing whether frenectomies in Maple Grove, MN make sense for a child, or looking for a second opinion after another provider has suggested one, can learn more about the evaluation process by visiting www.maplegrovepediatricdentistry.com.
Maple Grove Pediatric Dentistry is a pediatric dental practice in Maple Grove, Minnesota, led by Dr. Matthew Scribbins, a board-certified pediatric dentist. The practice provides preventive, restorative, and specialty dental care for children, including frenectomies, dental sealants, fluoride treatments, and sedation options.
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For more information about Maple Grove Pediatric Dentistry, contact the company here:
Maple Grove Pediatric Dentistry
Maple Grove Pediatric Dentistry
(763) 390-8575
team@maplegrovepediatricdentistry.com
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