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| The
muscles of the cheeks and lips are attached to the gums and tissue
of the mouth by a piece of soft tissue called a frenum. Sometimes
a frenum can be attached too high on the gums causing either recession
or spaces between teeth. |
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In
addition, there is another frenum under the tongue. If this frenum
is attached too close to the end of the tongue it can adversely
affect swallowing and speech. Sometimes this is referred to as being
"tongue-tied".
A Frenectomy is a simple procedure where
either part or all of the frenum in question is removed in order
to return a healthy balance to the mouth.
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| Sometimes
a frenum can be attached too high on the gums causing either recession
or spaces between teeth. The procedure to remove this is a called
labial frenectomy and involves the removal of tissue attachment
between the two front teeth as the gap between the teeth can again
pushed apart by the frenum, even after it being initially corrected
via a different procedure. The frenum can be attached in such a
way that it prevents the baby teeth from coming through.
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| A
lingual frenectomy removes the fold of tissue under the tongue.
Some people have a large frenum that limits tongue movement and
can interfere with speech.
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| Some
older children or teenagers may notice that the frenum under their
tongue becomes stuck between their front teeth, or that they can't
stick their tongue out as far as their friends can..
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| People
receiving a laser frenectomy must remain completely still during
the operation, so younger children may require general anesthesia.
In older children and adults, the procedure can be done with local
anesthesia, with or without nitrous oxide. The surgery itself takes
very little time, and can be completed in as little as 10 to 15
minutes.. |
| A
frenectomy can take several weeks to heal completely. Rinsing with
salt water helps keep the area clean. Brush and floss carefully
around the area. Depending on the type of stitches your dentist
uses, you may need to return to the dentist to have your stitches
removed or they may dissolve on their own.. |
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the operation does not solve the problem, it may need to be redone.
Redoing a lingual frenectomy is somewhat common. Few labial frenectomies
need repeating.Any surgery carries a risk of bleeding. Because of
the many blood vessels in the tongue, lingual frenectomies are more
likely to result in bleeding, although this complication is quite
rare. |
In
adults receiving a frenectomy in the lower jaw to correct the fit
of dentures, there is a risk of bruising the nerve that provides
sensation to the lower lip and chin. This will cause numbness in
the area that can last at some level for several months. However,
your lip will not droop, as the nerve does not affect movement,
only sensation.
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