Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry

Frenectomy

Your frenum, or frenulum, is the small piece of tissue that connects your tongue, cheeks, or lips to your gums. You have several frenums in your body. The one that often requires a frenectomy is the one inside your mouth.

A frenectomy is a common and quite simple procedure to correct any issues related to the frenulum. These problems are often diagnosed in younger children, but can still be found in adults. The frenectomy is an easy procedure that simply requires removal. The most common way is with a scalpel, but Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry also uses a laser to perform this procedure. This makes the procedure quicker, bloodless, and less painful during healing.

Your compassionate team at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is wholly committed to providing you, your family, and every patient with comprehensive periodontal care that improves your oral health and daily function. We pride ourselves on offering a safe, comfortable, and relaxing environment to ensure all patients receive the personalized care and treatment that is expected and deserved. You will find us to excel in effective communication, both in listening and sharing examination objectives. With our initiative-taking engagement in the dental industry and the constant innovative technological improvements offered, each exam and corresponding treatment is completely personalized. Call Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry at 502-570-5700 with any questions or to make an appointment for a frenectomy evaluation.

Are You or Your Child a Candidate for a Frenectomy?

There are some common indicators to show you might benefit from a frenectomy:

  • Your two upper front teeth have a gap between them. Your frenum might have excess tissue that has prevented the closure between the teeth.
  • Your labial frenum is close to your gum tissue where it causes tension, resulting in gum recession or tissue loss if not corrected.
  • You have a high lingual frenum attachment which restricts your tongue movement affecting your normal speech, eating, and swallowing abilities.

Frenulum problems are often corrected in a baby or a child when you first begin noticing feeding issues and speech impediments. It is not unusual for a child with this issue to reach adulthood before receiving a corrective frenectomy, even though restricted tongue movement caused problems.

Frenectomy For Your Child

Your child with an oversized frenum might experience a few uncomfortable issues, including speaking difficulties (a condition called tongue-tied). Other issues the team at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry may find include:

  • The frenulum gets stuck between their teeth.
  • Difficulty nursing as an infant.
  • It is difficult to stick out their tongue.
  • An early recession of gums, which will result in periodontal disease.

Frenectomy For Yourself as an Adult

If you have an oversized frenulum, you may experience several issues, including problems with your normal speech. Sometimes an adult with frenulum issues learns to compensate, despite the challenges.

A tight frenulum makes the process of chewing your food challenging because your tongue is unable to move normally inside your mouth. This also causes difficulty with your swallowing. A frenectomy at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry will address this issue and improve your eating.

More dental issues can develop if you have an improperly sized frenum. Since your food cannot move around in the mouth as it should, this limits your ability to clean your molars because of a limited range of motion with your tongue. This leads to decay, with food particles becoming lodged between your teeth.

The Frenectomy Procedure

A frenectomy is a less invasive procedure than having a tooth filled. To reduce discomfort during the procedure, Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry will start by administering a local anesthetic. Once the immediate tissue is numb, we will use either a surgical scalpel or a specialty laser to reduce the tissue and minimize discomfort. The laser reduces the chance of infection since the laser instantly sanitizes the area. This also speeds up the healing process.

For a newborn to feed or nurse properly, they might need either lip tie or tongue tie surgery to free the lingual frenulum underneath their tongue. Newborns can feed immediately following the procedure, since the recovery happens immediately.

Older children are given a mild anesthetic before the frenectomy. In severe cases, it might require a few sutures after the procedure. The procedure usually takes only 15 to 30 minutes.

The Risks of Not Having Frenectomy Treatment

If left untreated, there are several issues that can occur, including the following:

  • Inadequate lip seal.
  • Unnecessary speech issues.
  • Chronic mouth breathing.
  • Crowded teeth.
  • Limited jaw growth.
  • Nasal sinus congestion or airway constriction.
  • Messy eating and improper swallowing.
  • Altered development of dental arches.
  • Limited facial muscle movement.
  • A deep or an over-closed bite.
  • Periodontal disease.

Frenectomy Aftercare

There are no specific instructions after a frenectomy, although it is essential to schedule a follow-up appointment at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry to confirm that the treatment has been both successful and healing properly.

An important thing to do is to continue exercising good oral hygiene habits. Continue brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time and floss daily. In addition to your preventative practices, schedule regular visits twice a year. This allows the team at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry to perform routine preventative exams, conduct professional cleanings, and monitor your oral health.

Your Smile is Our Number One Priority

Our treatment philosophy at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is focused on patient education and the enhancement of your quality of life. We provide gentle, affordable, and painless periodontal care. We prioritize providing each patient with the information to make confident, informed decisions regarding their personal oral health treatment. Our experience is foundational in giving you restoratively minded periodontal treatment customized for your unique needs.

Our team specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease and in the placement of dental implants. We consider ourselves experts in the treatment of oral inflammation. We have received extensive education and training in these areas. We are familiar with the latest techniques for diagnosing and treating periodontal disease, and we are also trained in performing cosmetic periodontal procedures.

You can find Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry at:

107 Frazier Ct., 1D, Georgetown, KY

Or call us today at 502-570-5700