Frenectomy
WHAT IS A FRENECTOMY ?
A frenectomy is a simple surgical procedure that involves the removal of one or both frena from the mouth. The frenum is a connective tissue membrane that attaches one surface within the mouth to another.
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A frenectomy is an oral procedure during which a frenum in the mouth is altered or removed with a laser. A frenum is an attachment between two soft tissues in the mouth, including the cheeks, lips, and gums. The two types of frenum are known as the labial frenum and the lingual frenum.
How Does the Smile Makeover Process Begin?
The primary frena in the mouth are as follows:
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- Lingual frenum ā The vertical band of thin tissue that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth
- Labial frenum ā The connective webbing that attaches the lips to the gum above the top two front teeth and below the bottom two front teeth
- Buccal frena ā The thin strands of tissue that connect the gums to the insides of the cheeks
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Benefits Of Labial Frenectomy
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The labial frenum is the tissue connecting the gum tissue between the two front teeth to the upper lip. If this frenum is located down too low on the gum tissue, a gap between the two front teeth can occur. It can also cause gum recession by lifting the gums off of the jawbone.
Benefits of a labial frenectomy include:
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- Improves bite function
- Helps to reduce pain and discomfort
- Promotes self-confidence in children and teens by eliminating gaps in the smile
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Benefits Of A Lingual Frenectomy
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The lingual frenum is the tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. If the lingual frenum is located too far forward on the tongue, it can restrict tongue movement. If untreated, it can restrict a childās ability to eat and speak properly. Lingual frenum, also known as being ātongue-tied,ā can also impede an infantās ability to latch during breastfeeding or eating from a bottle.
Benefits of a lingual frenectomy include:
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- Improves appetite and eating in infants and children
- Improves speech function