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What is a Frenum?
A frenum, or frenulum, is a piece of soft tissue comprised of muscle fibres that are attached between the lips and gums. There are seven frenums in the mouth, and their primary function is to give the upper lip, lower lip, and tongue more stability in the mouth.
When someone has a frenum that is too short, too tight, or too large, it can lead to oral health issues, including difficulties with speaking, or in the case of babies, difficulties nursing. More serious issues may develop if the frenum is pulling gum tissue away from the teeth. This can include root exposure, spacing issues and dental hygiene problems.
A frenectomy at Clayton Park Dental can help resolve many of the most common issues caused by tight or restrictive frenum in infants, children, and adults.
What Is A Frenectomy?
A frenectomy is a procedure that removes the frenum in a patient's mouth. In the case of a lingual frenectomy, the procedure for patients who are tongue-tied, the procedure helps increase the motion of the tongue. Most often performed for infants, a frenectomy can improve your baby's ability to suck, swallow, and 'latch' when nursing.
Types of Frenum
There are two basic types of frenum. Each one has a different purpose as well as a variety of issues that can result if it is not working effectively.
Lingual Frenum
The lingual frenum connects the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. When this tissue is unusually short, a condition commonly called tongue-tie occurs. Tongue-tie interferes with the ability to swallow properly and may cause problems with normal speech development.
Labial Frenum
When the labial frenum is abnormally wide or long, it can create a space between the two front teeth. This gap will often close once the baby's adult teeth come in. But if the gap remains, surgery or orthodontic treatment may be required to prevent the gap from reopening.
Learn More About Frenectomies
Take a few moments to read through our most frequently asked questions about frenectomies at Clayton Park Dental.
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What conditions can a frenectomy be used to treat?
The following are a few of the issues that may be treated with a frenectomy:
- Difficulties nursing due to tongue-tie or lip-tie
- Limited tongue mobility
- Difficulties speaking clearly or with speech development
- Gum recession
- Excessive facial tension
- Difficulties wearing a dental appliance or dentures
- Poor oral hygiene caused by frenum attachment
- Gingival defects and/or loss of alveolar bone
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How is a frenectomy performed?
Frenectomies are fast-healing and often require no anesthesia. Because the frenum has few nerves and is very thin, the procedure involves very little pain.
At Clayton Park Dental, we use dental lasers to cut the frenum, freeing your tongue, lip, or cheek. The procedure typically lasts only 10 to 15 minutes.
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What is the best age for a frenectomy?
Frenectomies can be performed on patients of any age and may be necessary for different reasons.
Infants: Frenectomies are frequently performed on infants to help improve their ability to nurse properly.
Kids: Young children may undergo a frenectomy in order to help with speech development.
Teens: A frenectomy may be recommended for teens to help make orthodontic treatment more effective or more comfortable.
Adults: Adults may choose to undergo a frenectomy to help resolve oral health concerns such as the frenum pulling the gums away from the teeth.
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What post-surgical care is required for my infant's lip-tie after a frenectomy?
To help prevent the area from reverting back to the way it was originally, we recommend that parents perform the stretching exercises for seven weeks following the procedure. The upper lip is pulled up towards the nose and then released.
We recommend that you repeat this two to three times per day, possibly during feeding and switching from one breast to the other. The milk may help soothe and comfort the baby.
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What post-surgical care is required for my baby's tongue-tie after a frenectomy?
In most cases, the movement of the tongue during the act of breastfeeding is enough to prevent reattachment. If the parent is comfortable with stretching the surgical site, we recommend two alternative methods.
First Method: Place the index fingers of each hand on the floor of the mouth next to the healing site, push downward, and see the area stretch.
Second Method: Use a tongue blade to lift the tongue while gently pushing down on the lower jaw with the other hand. This pressure will create a stretch within the surgical site.
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How common is reattachment?
In some cases, during the healing process, a new frenum will form. This is considered normal. Your dentist will provide you with detailed instructions on how to prevent the frenum from attaching.
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What can I do to manage pain after a frenectomy procedure?
Your dentist will be sure to provide you with detailed care instructions to be followed after the frenectomy procedure. These instructions will provide you with details regarding pain management and how to care for the site.
Most adult patients undergoing a frenectomy find that over-the-counter pain medications are sufficient to treat any discomfort they experience.
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How long does a frenectomy take to heal?
Full healing will take anywhere from about four to eight weeks.
Many patients have described the discomfort after a frenectomy as being similar to a sore throat and find that discomfort peaks around day three. It is normal to feel discomfort on and off in waves.
Your dentist will be sure to provide you with detailed instructions for the care of the site and pain management in order to minimize any discomfort that you or your child may experience.