Some speech impediments may be caused by oral malformations. In such cases, it is necessary to correct the malformation so that the patient can speak clearly. One corrective procedure that is done to fix oral malformations is the frenectomy.
The frenulum (or frenum) is a small piece of tissue that connects one part of the body to another, for the purpose of restricting movement. Frenula (plural of frenulum) are found in different parts of the body, including the tongue, lips, inner cheeks, brain, digestive tract, and genitals.
Sometimes, the frenulum may either be too long or too short. Although only small, a malformed frenulum requires correction because it can affect the functionality of the particular organ. A long frenulum requires a frenectomy, while a short frenulum requires a frenuloplasty to be corrected.
A frenectomy is a minor surgical procedure that can be done in a few minutes to less than an hour. Its main purpose is to reduce the size of an enlarged or extended frenulum. Long frenulums may excessively inhibit the movement of a body part and affect the overall well-being of the patient.
In dental practice, a frenectomy is done on the labial frenula (frenula connecting the upper and lower lips to the gums) as well as on the lingual frenulum (frenulum under the tongue). These are common procedures that are done on both adults and children, although most patients tend to be infants and young kids.
There are several scenarios when a child would need a frenectomy. However, the mere observation that the frenulum is long can be a valid reason for getting a frenectomy. That is why most babies who are tongue-tied (have long lingual frenulums) are able to get a frenectomy at a very early age.
Lingual frenectomy is the reduction of the frenulum under the tongue, most often performed on tongue-tied individuals. This procedure is done on young children because most parents detect the problem at an early age, many times at birth. They are usually concerned about the lack of mobility of their child’s tongue.
A child is tongue-tied if the labial frenulum extends near the tip of the tongue and the child cannot lift the tongue up to the roof of the mouth. The extended frenulum can impede speech and articulation, and affect feeding because the limited tongue movement prevents a proper latch during breast feeding. An early frenectomy done before a child learns to talk can prevent any speech impediment from developing.
Some adults may also be slightly tongue-tied, but it may have not affected their speech development, which is why they weren’t able to detect it. A lingual frenectomy can still be done for aesthetic purposes.
Labial frenectomy involves removing some parts of the frenulum that connects the lips and gums. This procedure is most frequently done on patients who are getting orthodontic appliances (braces).
Braces occupy a lot of space around the teeth. If the labial frenulum is too long, the braces may get caught in it and this can cause pain and discomfort. The metal pieces of the braces may possibly hurt or lacerate the frenulum.
Before the braces are installed or during their adjustment, the labial frenulum may be removed. This will allow the dentist to fit the braces perfectly over the teeth and gums without worrying about the excess frenulum tissue. Proper-fitting braces work better and cause less discomfort to the patient.
During a frenectomy, your child will be asked to come into our dental office. A local anesthetic will be applied on the child’s lips or tongue, whichever has the malformed frenulum. The procedure does not require strong anesthesia because it lasts less than 30 minutes.
The dentist may use either a hand scalpel or a laser hand tool to separate the excess frenulum tissue from the rest of the body. Once the desired length of the frenulum has been achieved, the entire area will be stitched and cleaned.
Because a frenectomy is a minor procedure, it doesn’t cause any major discomfort to the patient. The frenulum can also heal quickly as long as the proper postoperative procedures are followed.
If you see any excessive bleeding, swelling, darkening, or other unusual side effects after the procedure, please visit our clinic at 1070 Pleasant Grove Suite 110 Roseville, CA 95678 right away for a follow-up consultation.
If you suspect that your child needs a frenectomy, Ace Dental in Roseville is the place to visit in the Sacramento, CA area. Our head dentist Dr. Karanvir Sibia, DDS, is well-trained in performing frenectomies.
You may call us at (916) 772-0111 with any inquiries, including pricing and preoperative instructions. However, we recommend you get an initial consultation so that Dr. Sibia can determine whether or not a frenectomy is really necessary.
To schedule an initial consultation, you may fill out this appointment request form. You can also visit us at 1070 Pleasant Grove Suite 110 Roseville, CA 95678, from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm. We will be happy to discuss any concerns you have with you or your child’s oral health.
