Frenectomies in Torrance, CA
At Hula Grins, we offer gentle frenectomies in Torrance, CA to address tongue-tie and lip-tie concerns, improving oral function, feeding, and speech development for your child’s healthy growth.
A restricted frenum is one of the most commonly overlooked reasons a child may struggle with feeding, speech, breathing, or proper oral development. The thin band of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth, or the upper lip to the gum, plays a more significant role in a child’s overall function than most parents realize, and when that tissue is too short or too tight, the effects can quietly ripple through multiple areas of a child’s health and development. For families searching for answers, a frenectomy may be the precise, low-risk solution that has been missing from the picture.
At HulaGrins Pediatric Dentistry in Torrance, we offer laser frenectomies as part of our comprehensive pediatric dentistry services for patients ranging from infants to older children and adolescents. Dr. Sena Hiradate performs both tongue-tie and lip-tie releases using a soft tissue laser, and our team works closely with myofunctional therapists and other specialists to ensure each procedure is part of a thoughtful, well-coordinated treatment plan. At HulaGrins, you are Ohana, and that means your child receives care that is careful, individualized, and genuinely invested in long-term outcomes.
Understanding the Frenectomy Journey
Infants: Feeding Difficulty
Newborns often present with breastfeeding challenges, poor latch, or slow weight gain caused by a restricted lingual frenulum.
Older Children: Overlooked Signs
Speech articulation trouble, picky eating, and orthodontic spacing concerns can point to a restriction missed for years.
The Laser Release
Dr. Sena releases the restricted tissue with our soft tissue laser, causing minimal bleeding and requiring no sutures in most cases.
What Is a Frenectomy?
A frenectomy is the surgical release of an overly tight or short frenum, the band of tissue that connects a mobile oral structure to a fixed one. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, ankyloglossia, or tongue-tie, is a congenital condition characterized by a shortened lingual frenulum that restricts tongue mobility and can cause functional limitations including difficulties with feeding, speech, articulation, and swallowing. A lingual frenectomy addresses restriction beneath the tongue, while a labial frenectomy releases the frenum connecting the upper lip to the gum tissue above the front teeth. Both procedures are routinely performed in our Torrance office using a soft tissue laser that minimizes bleeding, eliminates the need for sutures in most cases, and significantly reduces recovery time compared to traditional scissor or scalpel techniques.
It is important to understand that not every tongue-tie or lip-tie requires treatment. Our team evaluates each patient individually, assessing the functional impact of the restriction before recommending a procedure. We only move forward when we are confident that a release will meaningfully improve your child’s quality of life.
The LightScalpel CO2 Laser
Not all soft tissue lasers perform equally, and the technology behind the instrument matters just as much as the hands using it. At HulaGrins, we use the LightScalpel CO2 laser, a system built specifically for the precision demands of soft tissue procedures in dentistry. According to LightScalpel, the system’s 10,600 nm CO2 wavelength is uniquely suited for intraoral soft tissue applications, allowing the laser to accurately cut and efficiently coagulate tissue at the same time. The result is a procedure that is cleaner, faster, and far more comfortable than traditional scalpel or scissor techniques.
For pediatric patients in particular, this matters enormously. The LightScalpel causes minimal bleeding, eliminates the need for sutures in most cases, seals nerve endings during the procedure to reduce post-operative discomfort, and is FDA-cleared for soft tissue use in patients of all ages, including infants. Children who might otherwise experience significant anxiety around a surgical procedure often tolerate laser frenectomies remarkably well, and recovery typically progresses within a matter of days. It is one of the reasons Dr. Sena chose this specific system, and one of the reasons families travel from across the South Bay to have their child’s release performed at our Torrance office.
Signs Your Child May Benefit From a Frenectomy
In Infants
Newborns and young infants with tongue-tie most commonly present with breastfeeding difficulties. A restricted lingual frenulum can prevent an infant from achieving an effective latch, leading to poor milk transfer, prolonged feeding sessions, nipple pain for the nursing parent, and inadequate weight gain. We encourage parents who are experiencing these challenges to seek evaluation early, as the procedure in newborns is brief and the recovery is rapid. Before recommending a release, we ensure that other causes of breastfeeding difficulty have been considered and addressed.
In Older Children
Tongue-tie and lip-tie in older children can present differently and are often overlooked for years. The following are signs that may indicate a frenum restriction is affecting your child’s development and daily function:
- Speech articulation difficulties: particular trouble with sounds that require the tongue to elevate or move freely, such as /l/, /r/, /t/, and /d/
- Difficulty eating certain foods: struggling with foods that require significant tongue coordination, like licking, chewing tough textures, or clearing food from the teeth
- Open-mouth posture or mouth breathing: a restricted tongue may rest low in the mouth rather than against the palate, contributing to disordered breathing patterns
- Orthodontic concerns: a prominent upper labial frenum can create a gap between the front teeth and may affect how orthodontic treatment progresses
- Dental hygiene challenges: a tight upper lip frenum can make it difficult to clean the area between the front teeth and the gumline effectively
Children who have been evaluated for speech delays, referred by an orthodontist for dental spacing issues, or who have unexplained challenges with feeding or sleep may be excellent candidates for a frenectomy evaluation.
Our Approach: Coordinated, Comprehensive Care
One of the things that sets HulaGrins apart from most practices offering tongue-tie treatment in the South Bay is our commitment to doing this right, not just quickly. Dr. Sena collaborates with myofunctional therapists in the area before and after laser releases, because the best outcomes are achieved when the muscles of the tongue and face are being properly retrained alongside the procedure itself. For appropriate cases, we also recommend evaluation with an ENT or other relevant specialists before proceeding, ensuring that any release we perform is part of a complete clinical picture.
For older children, who carry more anatomical nuance in the tongue and typically require behavior management during the procedure, we also have sedation options available to ensure the experience is calm and comfortable. The combination of preparation, collaboration, and clinical skill is why medical, dental, and orthodontic providers throughout the South Bay have chosen to refer their patients to HulaGrins for tongue-tie and lip-tie releases in older children, a level of care that relatively few practices in the area are equipped to offer.
What to Expect From the Laser Frenectomy Procedure
The procedure itself is brief. Using our soft tissue laser, Dr. Sena releases the restricted tissue with a high degree of precision, causing minimal bleeding and requiring no sutures in most cases. Most patients experience significantly less post-operative discomfort than they would with a traditional scalpel technique, and healing typically progresses quickly over the following days. Parents receive detailed aftercare instructions, including exercises to perform at home to support the healing process and prevent reattachment of the tissue.
For patients who have been working with a myofunctional therapist prior to the procedure, the exercises prescribed after the release will be a natural extension of the work already underway. The coordination between our office and the therapist continues after the procedure to support the best possible functional outcome. Keeping up with routine preventive care throughout this process helps us monitor healing and address any other developing concerns in a timely way.
Schedule a Frenectomy Consultation at HulaGrins Pediatric Dentistry
If you have been told your infant has a tongue-tie, if your child is experiencing speech or feeding challenges that have not fully resolved, or if an orthodontist has recommended a frenum evaluation, HulaGrins Pediatric Dentistry is here to help. Our board-certified pediatric dental team brings hands-on laser training and a genuine commitment to collaborative care to every frenectomy case we evaluate. Both Dr. Sena and Dr. Sonya are able to assess for tongue-tie and lip-tie restrictions, and laser releases are performed by Dr. Sena. We take the time to ensure that each patient is a true candidate before proceeding, and we stand behind every recommendation we make.
We invite you to contact our office to schedule a consultation. We serve families throughout Torrance and the greater South Bay area, and we look forward to being a trusted part of your child’s care team.
Contact Us
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Open Door Policy
Our office has an open door policy, which means that you are welcome to be with your child in the operatory, with the exception of general anesthesia appointments.