Frenectomy

A frenectomy (also known as a frenulectomy or frenotomy) is the removal of a frenulum, a small fold of tissue that prevents an organ in the body from moving too far. It can refer to frenula in several places on the human body. It is related to frenuloplasty, a surgical alteration in a frenulum. Done mostly for orthodontic purposes, a frenectomy is either performed inside the middle of upper lip, which is called labial frenectomy, or under the tongue, called lingual frenectomy. Frenectomy is a very common dental procedure that is performed on infants, children, and adults. A similar procedure frenulotomy is where a tight frenulum may be relieved by making an incision in the tight tissue.

There are several frenula that are associated with types of frenectomy:

• Genital frenectomy can be performed to remove frenulums from genitalia
• Lingual frenectomy (of the tongue) as treatment for ankyloglossia (tongue-tie)
• Labial frenectomy (of the lip) is very common with patients undergoing denture treatment in order to get the proper fit of dentures or patients who have tissues attached to centre of upper lip and causing recession of gums or gap between the upper front teeth called central incisors.
• A frenectomy can also be performed to remove a section of tissue (the frenulum) that attached to the gingival tissue between two teeth.

Video Frenectomy

Pediatric and Infant Frenectomies

In the past, the frenectomy procedure held pride as perhaps being the most popular of soft tissue operations in younger patients. Many labial and lingual frenum (tongue- and lip-ties) were snipped by midwife, family doctor and dental surgeons. The overall awareness and treatment of tongue- and lip-ties especially in breastfeeding infants has increased over recent years.

Maps Frenectomy

Laser frenectomy with CO₂ surgical lasers

Frenectomies can be safely and efficiently released with the soft tissue 10,600 nm CO₂ laser with predictable and repeatable tissue response, fast ablation and instant hemostasis. The extremely precise cutting, minimal collateral damage, clear and bloodless operating field, make the CO₂ laser a good choice for frenectomy procedures. CO₂ laser oral surgery also features less wound contraction and reduced scarring or fibrosis in comparison with scalpel incisions.

References

Further reading

• Lingual Frenectomy procedure, information and demonstration
• Tongue-Ties and Lip-Ties - Treatment and Case Studies
• Color Atlas of Infant Tongue-Tie and Lip-Tie Laser Frenectomy