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Hours
Mon: 8am- 4pm
Tue: 8am- 4pm
Wed: 8am- 4pm
Thu: 8am- 4pm
Closed: Fri - Sun
For many parents, feeding your baby is one of the most meaningful parts of early parenthood. But if nursing has been painful, frustrating, or emotionally draining, you’re not alone—and there may be a better way. At Alamo Heights Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Angie Sage and her team offer gentle, laser frenectomies to help babies feed comfortably and thrive.
At Alamo Heights Pediatric Dentistry, we take a conservative and functional approach to frenectomies. This means that before recommending any procedure, we carefully evaluate both maternal and infant symptoms, look at the function of the tongue, lips and cheeks, and assess the anatomy of the mouth.
You cannot diagnose a tongue tie just by looking at it! Dr. Sage and her team believe in understanding the “why” behind each symptom. We partner with local functional providers such as IBCLCs, Speech Language Pathologists, and Bodywork providers to ensure your child receives a complete feeding assessment and that all non-surgical options are explored first.
Dr. Sage is passionate about collaborative care—both pre-operatively and post-operatively—to ensure the best possible outcomes.
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See real patient success stories.
Every frenectomy begins with a thorough consultation. During this visit, Dr. Sage will take time to listen to your concerns, review your child’s history, and perform a gentle oral exam. We’ll assess both structure and function—evaluating how your child’s tongue, lips, and surrounding muscles move and interact. If a frenectomy is recommended, we’ll explain every step of the process and answer any questions you may have. Going straight to a release of restricted tissues may not be the correct first step - some kiddos may benefit from pre-operative therapies before moving forward with a release. Dr. Sage works together with your family to determine the best step forward at your consultation.
Our office proudly uses the LightScalpel CO₂ laser—a precise, advanced tool that allows us to perform frenectomies quickly, comfortably, and with minimal invasiveness. The CO₂ laser gently releases restrictive tissue while significantly reducing bleeding, swelling, and post-procedure discomfort.
Because the LightScalpel laser simultaneously cauterizes and sterilizes the treatment area, healing begins immediately. Most procedures take only seconds, and babies are often able to feed right after treatment. This technology helps us achieve exceptional accuracy and comfort, resulting in a smoother procedure and faster recovery for your child.
In addition to our CO₂ laser technology, we also offer photobiomodulation, commonly known as red light therapy, for both pre-operative and post-operative support.
Before a tongue-tie or lip-tie release, red light therapy helps relax the tissues, creating a smoother incision site and improving comfort during the procedure. After the frenectomy, it supports recovery by promoting cellular regeneration, enhancing blood flow, and increasing oxygenation to the treated area—all of which help speed up healing and reduce inflammation.
Many families also find that red light therapy provides natural pain relief and helps babies and children feel more comfortable following their procedure. Even for babies who do not undergo a frenectomy, this gentle therapy can be beneficial in reducing muscle tension and promoting overall oral comfort.
Following the procedure, we’ll provide you with a detailed aftercare plan tailored to your child’s needs. This includes stretches, oral exercises, and follow-up visits to help guide healing and work towards improving function.
Our team collaborates closely with your child’s complete care team—which may include a lactation consultant, speech-language pathologist, physical therapist, or myofunctional therapist—to ensure every aspect of healing and function is supported. We’ll be with you every step of the way, offering guidance, reassurance, and compassionate care as your child adjusts and thrives.
Pre- and post-operative care aren’t optional—they’re essential to your child’s success. Just like you would do physical therapy before and after a knee or shoulder surgery, the same principle applies to the mouth. The tongue, lips, and surrounding tissues are made up of muscles that need to be prepared, released, and then re-trained to achieve healthy, lasting function.
Before the procedure, pre-operative therapy and bodywork help reduce muscle tension, improve mobility, and create a better environment for the release. This preparation allows the frenectomy to be more effective and comfortable for your child.
After the procedure, stretches and exercises guide proper wound healing and prevent the tissue from reattaching. These post-operative routines also teach the tongue and oral muscles how to move correctly in their new range of motion.
Throughout this process, collaboration with your child’s complete care team—which may include a lactation consultant, physical therapist, speech-language pathologist, chiropractor, or myofunctional therapist—is key. Dr. Sage and her team work closely with trusted local providers to make this process as smooth as possible, ensuring that your child’s healing, comfort, and function improve together.
Functional providers are specialists who can identify how your child’s muscles, tongue, and oral tissues work together for feeding, breathing, and speech. They help us look beyond structure to understand true function—because healthy development is about more than appearance.
Depending on your child’s needs, your care team may include:
At AHPD, we’re proud to have Morgan Jarzombek, our in-house Speech-Language Pathologist, who provides direct support for our infants and children. Morgan collaborates with Dr. Sage to offer both pre-operative and post-operative care—ensuring that your child’s feeding and oral function improve long after the procedure.
Signs of possible tethered oral tissues (lip, cheek, or tongue ties) include:
For toddlers and older children, signs can include:
If you’ve noticed these symptoms, it may be time for a frenectomy consultation with our caring team in San Antonio.
