Glossary of Tongue-Tie Terms - Cleveland, OH
Educating Patients on Lip and Tongue-Tie Terminology
If the words “frenectomy,” “buccal,” or “frenulum” sound foreign to you, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Understanding the terminology behind lip and tongue-tie treatment can be tricky, but the good news is that Dr. Csok is here to provide an educational opportunity for parents and interested adults. It is our goal to give patients the tools and knowledge to feel confident in their decision to choose us for treatment. Should you review the glossary of tongue-tie terms from our Cleveland, OH lip and tongue-tie specialist and still have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Tongue-Tie
This occurs when the band of tissue (the frenulum) attaches to the floor of the mouth and is restricted. Because it is short and often thick, it prevents patients from being able to move the tongue freely, hindering speech and eating habits.
Lip-Tie
A lip-tie is a band of tissue that is connected to the gums behind the upper lip. When the frenulum is too thick and/or short, it makes it difficult to eat and even breathe without opening the mouth. Many infants struggle with the inability to latch and suffer dental problems, one of which is a gap between their upper front two teeth. Lip tie will also impact bilabial sounds like B, P, M, W.
Lip and Tongue-Tie
There are patients who develop both a lip and tongue-tie.
Buccal-Tie
A buccal-tie is much less common than a lip or tongue-tie, but it occurs when the cheeks are connected to the facial bones and jawbone by short, rigid, and thick tissues.
Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTS)
When meeting with Dr. Csok, you may hear her refer to lip, tongue, or buccal-ties as TOTS or tethered oral tissues. This is just a more clinical term commonly used by professionals when discussing these conditions.
Frenulum / Frenula / Frena
These terms refer to the band of tissues that are located behind the lip (lip-tie) or underneath the tongue (tongue-tie). They typically form while a baby is in utero but are meant to shrink before birth. If they do not, a lip or tongue-tie can be the result. If referring only to one band of tissue, professionals will use “frenulum” or “frenum,” but if multiples are discussed, the pluralized versions “frenulums,” “frenula,” or “frena” are used.
Frenectomy / Frenotomy / Frenulectomy
When learning about the ways to treat a lip or tongue-tie, Dr. Csok will likely mention these phrases. They simply serve as the term used to describe the procedure that releases a lip or tongue-tie. Many professionals use a traditional scalpel and sutures; however, Dr. Csok and our team at Cleveland Tongue-Tie Center rely on the LightScalpel laser, which proves to be faster, more efficient, and more comfortable.