Frenectomy

A frenum is a naturally-occurring soft tissue that attaches the lips and gums. It is most prominent between upper and lower front teeth.  We provide laser frenectomy procedures for, patients who have lip-tie or tongue-tie that may be interfering with speech, biting and chewing function, or the ability to wear a denture comfortably, or simply for a cosmetic reason to close the gap between the front teeth. If a frenum attachment is too short it can cause tooth recession resulting in the need for a gum grafting procedure. However, if the frenum is not corrected, this recession will occur again. A frenum attachment can also be so large and strong that it can prevent teeth from coming together resulting in a gap between the front teeth. This can be an aesthetic concern and can also be an issue during orthodontic treatment.

A frenectomy is a quick, simple procedure that releases a short or tight frenum, or   the muscle attachment connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth and lips to the gum tissues. Frenectomies effectively increase range of oral movement, general comfort and cosmetic appearance. By using our dental laser, we can perform a frenectomy comfortably and often without the need for anesthetic.

Does My Child Need a Frenectomy?

Infants

  • Mother: Nursing pain for mom (bleeding cracked nipples)
  • Mother: Mastitis and plugged ducts
  • Mother: Lowering milk supply
  • Child: has reflex or colic
  • Child : Gassy
  • Child: Difficulty latching during breastfeeding
  • Child: unable to open the mouth widely
  • Child: doesn’t gain weight
  • Child: makes clicking sound while breastfeeding
  • Child: Heart-shaped tip of the tongue
  • Child: doesn’t sleep well

Adults and children

  • Speech struggle, speech delay
  • Narrow vaulted top jaw
  • Lower jaw protrusion
  • Eating, swallowing, digestive problems
  • Gap between upper or lower front teeth
  • Post orthodontic treatment gap closure
  • Insufficient Airways
  • Mouth breathing

How is a Frenectomy done?

At Bio Dental, we accommodate patients from all across the DFW Motorplex area. We perform tongue tie and lip tie Frenectomies on infants, children, and teens and adults using a dedicated technology – specialized soft tissue laser. Soft tissue laser used to remove the oral tissue, it is the less invasive technique and causes minimal to no bleeding and discomfort. Infants are swaddled during the procedure, while older kids are treated in the dental chair. All patients and their family members are protected with appropriate eyewear during the procedure. We offer a choice of anesthetic for our patients and their ultimate comfort. The frenum is removed with laser basically vaporized by the highly focused laser beam rather than being cut with a scalpel. The use of soft tissue laser also enables fast and smooth healing process with fewer complications, which is very important for newborn and young children.

What to expect after Frenectomy?

The laser stimulates tissue healing, which can aid in promoting faster healing. Some kids are healing fast while for others it can take few days. Following a frenectomy for a breastfed child, mother can nurse immediately. If a local anesthetic has been used, your infant can have some difficulty at first. Breastmilk contains healing properties for your child and can provide them with comfort after the procedure is complete. It is recommended to breast feed or feed every few hours to maintain the frenums from attaching back. We will provide you with specific instructions for aftercare once the frenectomy is complete.

When to call the doctor:

  • Your child is having difficulty swallowing and has excessive drooling.
  • Your child has a lot of bleeding from the mouth. A small amount of oozing is normal.
  • Your child has severe swelling under the tongue or chin. A small amount of swelling is normal.
  • Your child’s rectal temperature is greater than 101.50 F.
  • Your child has a croupy (barky) cough, cry or wheeze.
  • Your child vomits for more than 6 hours or if vomiting is severe.  Your child’s nurse will discuss this with you before you go home.
  • Your child has signs of dehydration.  A child can become dehydrated when he or she has prolonged or severe vomiting and is not able to drink enough to keep up with the loss of fluids.