Frenectomy Frenectomy procedures come in a wide variety. They all involve removing an unwanted bit of tissue called a frenulum. Considered common, it is typically done for orthodontic reasons to improve the functionality of the patient's mouth. When a frenulum is removed from the upper lip, it is known as a labial frenectomy. If it is removed from beneath the tongue it is labeled a lingual frenectomy. If you have questions or concerns or have discovered a frenulum, let us know. Contact our office at Mission Hills Periodontics to answer your questions. Frenulum CausesFrenulum is strictly a genetic issue. It is an extra bit of connective tissue. For instance, when touching your tongue to the roof of your mouth the lingual frenum stretches along the underside of your tongue. Many infants are born tongue-tied, or with ankyloglossia, which means the frenum is too short to allow proper tongue movement. This occurs far more frequently with boys than with girls. When the tongue is not allowed to move appropriately it can cause problems with speech development, swallowing food, and for infants, it can cause difficulty when trying to breastfeed. A simple surgical procedure known as a lingual frenectomy can correct the problem easily and restore the tongue's range of motion to normal. When the connective tissue in question occurs between the gum area above the patient's front teeth and the gums it is called a labial frenum. When this particular frenulum is too short, it too can cause slow development in speech. This condition, when the tissue is shorter than normal, is called lip adhesion. Frenum ProblemsWhen the labial frenum or the lingual frenum is too short, it can hinder proper oral care and not allow for easy brushing. Particularly in the case of the lingual frenum, it is exceedingly difficult to properly brush and floss the front teeth. This can lead to tooth decay and gum disease as well as a host of other serious dental conditions if they are not taken care of appropriately. Maxillary FrenectomyThe official name of the procedure is maxillary frenectomy. It is simple and easy and takes less than fifteen minutes in a single short office visit. It involves our team applying a numbing agent to the appropriate tissue to ensure patient comfort during the process. Once the patient has been numbed, our staff will simply make a single quick cut to the frenum which provides additional movement either to the tongue or the upper lip depending upon which procedure was necessary. Patients will instantly be able to tell the difference in the way they speak and in swallowing food. They will also find it much easier to properly care for their teeth, keeping a high level of oral hygiene. For those patients who have had to deal with speech problems brought on by a frenum issue, this procedure could greatly help. Also, those parents who have infants with the same condition, can rest assured that we can take care of it for them. Contact the office here at Mission Hills Periodontics for the details so you can feel confident when deciding to have the procedure done. Call us for an appointment at (619) 356-5989. |
