Frenectomy

A frenum is a small fold of tissue that connects the lip or tongue to the gum. Everyone has them. When a frenum is unusually thick, short, or attached too close to the gum margin, it creates clinical problems. When those problems are significant, a frenectomy releases the attachment. The labial frenum, the tissue connecting the upper lip to the gum above the front teeth, can pull on the gum tissue directly, contributing to recession and making adequate oral hygiene difficult in that area. In some patients, a thick or low labial frenum also maintains a gap between the upper central incisors. Orthodontic treatment can close the gap mechanically, but without frenectomy, the tissue can cause the space to reopen after braces or aligners are removed. Timing the frenectomy in coordination with orthodontic treatment matters: we work with your orthodontist directly. Lingual frenectomy, releasing a tongue tie, addresses restriction in tongue mobility that can affect speech articulation, the ability to breastfeed in infants, and oral function in older children and adults. Tongue ties range in clinical significance from mild and functionally irrelevant to severe and meaningfully disruptive. We evaluate rather than treat automatically, because not every tongue tie requires intervention. We perform frenectomies with our diode laser. The procedure takes only a few minutes under local anesthesia. The laser approach seals the tissue as it cuts, which means minimal bleeding, rapid healing, and rarely any need for sutures. Post-operative discomfort is typically mild and short-lived.