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St. Petersburg
Infant and toddler tongue-tie treatment

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What is tongue-tie treatment?

A tongue-tie (also called ankyloglossia) occurs when the tissue beneath the tongue is too tight or thick, limiting movement and potentially affecting feeding, speech, breathing, and oral development. At Shiny Happy Smiles, we offer gentle CO₂ laser frenectomies that are precise, fast-healing, and virtually bloodless. We partner with parents, pediatricians, lactation consultants, and speech therapists to provide clear guidance before and after the procedure. Whether you're struggling with nursing challenges, sleep concerns, or speech delays, we’ll help you understand whether a tongue-tie might be contributing and what your options are. Most importantly, you’ll never be rushed or pressured into a decision.

The benefits of tongue-tie treatment

Gentle CO₂ laser technology

Our state-of-the-art laser allows for a quick, precise release with minimal discomfort and faster healing compared to traditional methods.

Multidisciplinary collaboration

We work closely with referring providers, including lactation consultants, ENTs, speech pathologists, and bodyworkers, to ensure continuity of care and long-term results.

Clear, compassionate support

You’ll receive guidance before, during, and after treatment, including post-op exercises, feeding support, and follow-up check-ins to make sure healing is on track.

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What you can expect
from start to finish

1

Evaluation and diagnosis

We begin with a thorough evaluation, which includes a physical exam and a deep conversation about your child’s feeding, sleeping, and developmental history. We’ll walk you through what we see, what it means, and whether a frenectomy is likely to help.

2

Collaborative planning

If treatment is recommended, we coordinate care with your other providers, especially lactation consultants or therapists. We’ll also go over what to expect during and after the procedure, including how to prepare your child and what exercises will support healing.

3

Quick, gentle release

Using a soft-tissue CO₂ laser, we perform the release in a matter of seconds. The procedure is minimally invasive and often completed right in our office. Because the laser cauterizes as it works, there’s little to no bleeding, and no need for sutures

4

Supportive aftercare

You’ll leave with clear aftercare instructions and access to our team for any questions or concerns. We typically recommend stretches and follow-up with your care team to ensure your child adapts well and sees the full benefits of treatment.

Laser care with a lighter touch

At Shiny Happy Smiles, we use the LightScalpel CO2 laser to provide precise, gentle tongue-tie treatment for infants and children. This advanced soft tissue laser allows us to carefully release restricted tissue with minimal contact, helping improve comfort, function, and healing compared to traditional techniques.

Because the laser seals tissue as it works, treatment typically involves less bleeding, less swelling, and a smoother recovery experience. For babies, a laser frenectomy may help support feeding and latch. For older children, it may improve tongue mobility, speech development, oral function, and comfort. Our goal is always to make treatment feel calm, thoughtful, and tailored to your child’s needs — with clear guidance for parents before, during, and after the visit.

Healing Starts at Home

After a frenectomy, gentle stretching exercises are a key part of your child's healing process. To ensure the best results, we recommend performing these simple exercises six times a day for three weeks. You'll gently lift the lip toward the nose and massage the healing site, then carefully lift the tongue to apply light tension — each stretch only needs to last a few seconds. These quick, consistent exercises help keep the tissue from reattaching, supporting a smooth and successful recovery. Have questions? Our team is always here to help guide you through every step of the healing journey.

Have questions? We've got answers.

Signs of a tongue-tie in infants may include difficulty latching, clicking sounds while nursing, gassiness, reflux, or slow weight gain. We always recommend an evaluation with both a lactation consultant and a pediatric dentist experienced in ties.

We use CO₂ laser technology, which minimizes pain and promotes fast healing. While your child may be briefly uncomfortable, the procedure itself takes just seconds, and we prioritize comfort before, during, and after the release.

Yes. Aftercare includes gentle stretches and, ideally, coordinated follow-up with feeding therapists or bodyworkers. These steps help prevent reattachment and support long-term functional gains in feeding, breathing, and speech.

Still have questions? Give us a call!

Call (727) 610-7530

Stories from parents like you

Love this dentist! My kids always look forward to their appointments. Honestly would not take them anywhere else!!

Raizel T.

The entire staff is so friendly and professional.  I have an anxious child and they do a great job at calming her down to get her teeth clean and cared for!

Jennifer B.

Our experience is always good. Dr Josh, Ashley, and the entire staff are excellent with children. They even went the extra mile to accommodate us during our visit.  It's hard to get good service in any field these days. So, I am happy to leave this review.

Cornelius B.

Dr Josh and his team are A+! We’re honored to be able to be a part of this practice family and are so grateful for the care that they share with our kids. Finding a dentist that you trust is important— you won’t go wrong with this great practice!

Clay M.

The entire team here is amazing! Tiffany gave me great advice that completely changed the way we floss for my 5 year old. Flossing is now easy! Dr. Joshua has also been great . He is so gentle and knowledgeable. I feel so blessed to have my children here.

Ashley P.

From scheduling to check out was so smooth and stress free! All the staff were super sweet and you can tell they love kids. Thank Alexandria, Catrina and Dr Josh for being gentle, patient and compassionate to my daughter and a 1st time mom❤️

Dahmaris D.

Dr. Josh and Ashley were AMAZING!! Extremely patient and they talked my daughter through the whole procedure. In and out and she left with a huge smile because it was painless. Hands down A+ and highly recommended!!

Michelle G.

"Dr. Josh doesn't treat you like just another person in his chair. We've developed a nice relationship and it's just really important to be able to know that we're being taken care of really well."

Anna
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