Are you suffering from your tongue or lip being attached to the soft tissue in your mouth? Read on to discover the benefits of frenectomy treatment here at Ascent Dental Care!
What is a Frenectomy?
A frenectomy is performed to remove soft tissue (frenum), restricting the movement of another organ. Frenectomies can be performed on both adults and children.
Types of frenectomy include:
- Lingual frenectomy – referring to the removal of soft tissue attached to the tongue
- Labial frenectomy – referring to the removal of soft tissue attached to the lips – and can be quite a standard treatment for patients undergoing periodontal, orthodontic, denture treatments
- A frenectomy can also be performed to remove soft tissue that is attached to the gingival tissue (between two teeth)
Lingual Frenectomy
This type of frenectomy is used to treat patients with a condition called Ankyloglossia, more commonly referred to as “tongue-tied”. This condition can severely reduce the mobility of the tongue as well as affecting:
- Speech
- Eating
- Oral Hygiene
- Development of the upper jaw
- Swallowing
Children who have this condition can develop an “open bite”, which would require orthodontic treatments to rectify later in life.
Labial Frenectomy
This type of frenectomy is often used to treat orthodontic patients to close a front tooth gap. The labial frenulum usually attaches to the upper and centre lip between the two upper front teeth, which can cause:
- A large gap between the front teeth
- Gum recession
