Frenectomy
FRENECTOMY
What You Need to Know About Oral Frenectomies
People can be born with a tongue tie (lingual frenulum) or a lip tie (labial frenulum), which can cause difficulty speaking, eating, or even swallowing in severe cases. A lip tie can also limit lip movement, interfere with the proper growth and spacing of the two front teeth, and may result in gum recession.
A frenectomy (also called a frenulectomy) is a simple surgical procedure in which the labial or lingual frenulum is removed or modified. A frenectomy can be performed quickly, safely and with minimal pain and healing time, for young children and adults alike.
Frenectomy Procedure
FRENECTOMY
In most cases, the oral frenectomy procedure is fairly straightforward. Here are the general steps:
-
After a consultation with your doctor or pediatrician, the person getting the frenectomy procedure will need to be secured while lying faceup. You may need to hold your child during the procedure.
-
Your doctor may apply a topical anesthetic to the area to numb any pain.
-
Your doctor will quickly snip the frenum using a scalpel, surgical scissors, or a cauterizing instrument.
-
If the lip tie is severe or more complicated, it may require a few stitches to close the incision.
-
The entire procedure will likely take 15 minutes or less from start to finish.
Laser frenectomy
A laser frenectomy is basically the same procedure as a traditional oral frenectomy. The only difference is that the procedure uses a laser, which minimizes the risk of infection and blood loss.
