Frenectomy

Frenectomy is a procedure (surgical or laser-based) in which the position of the frenulum, the soft tissue in the oral cavity that restricts the movements of the tongue, is removed or modified

The frenulum comes in two types:

  • lingual frenulum, located under the tongue
  • labial frenulum, located under the lips

Although it may seem an insignificant tissue, the frenulum can pose significant problems, especially for infants and young children. These include:

  • difficulty latching the child onto the breast
  • impaired feeding for the child in the first year of life and beyond
  • breathing difficulties
  • facial deformities in the child
  • speech and articulation challenges
  • swallowing difficulties
  • eruption of teeth in abnormal positions

When and how is frenectomy to be performed?

Frenectomy is performed only upon the recommendation of a pediatrician or pedodontist after a thorough consultation, and when the child exhibits one or more of the symptoms listed above. Although it is a procedure that can be performed even in adulthood, it is advisable for frenectomy to be done in the early months of a child’s life to prevent the development of problems and complications later on.

Frenectomy can be done through:

  • surgical intervention
  • laser procedure

Surgical frenectomy is the traditional method involving a scalpel/scissors, and while it is not a complicated procedure, it can be intimidating for the child. On the other hand, laser frenectomy has gained much more popularity in recent years, being a minimally invasive procedure with no bleeding, no sutures, and no follow-up visits to the pedodontist.

After the intervention, the child should not be fed for 2 hours, and then it is recommended to feed them with purees and soft foods for a few days. After each meal, the oral cavity should be carefully cleaned.