Frenectomy

Frenectomy

There are two frenula of the mouth: the upper frenulum is located between the two front teeth and connects the upper lip to the gums, and the lower frenulum attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth. If either frenulum is causing restriction of the lip or tongue due to being unusually short or thick, a simple procedure by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon can correct this condition. Dr. Smith and Dr. Stern at Greater Columbus Oral Surgery & Dental Implants can perform this procedure, called a frenectomy.

TONGUE OR LIP TIE

If a child needs a frenectomy, it is often because of a tongue or lip tie. If either of these conditions are left untreated, it may cause several issues, such as:

• Feeding issues (particularly in infants)
• Speech and dental development
• Undeveloped jaw structure
• Higher probably of needing braces
• Breathing issues

Although many frenectomy procedures are safe to perform on most infants to prevent future problems and correct feeding issues, they can be performed at any age. If you or your child have been referred for a frenectomy, please contact our practice for treatment. Dr. Smith and Dr. Stern can perform this minimally invasive procedure at our state-of-the-art offices in Grove City and Powell, OH.

DIASTEMA

Sometimes the upper frenulum can attach too low on the gums, forcing a gap between the front teeth. This is known as diastema and is another common reason for needing a frenectomy procedure. Treating diastema is similar to a tongue or lip tie treatment. The frenulum will either be removed completely or snipped and reattached into a more optimal position.

It is rare to have complications following a frenectomy procedure. Be aware that prolonged bleeding, infection, or damage to nearby structures following a procedure is not normal and should be addressed at once by an oral surgeon. Please call our office at any time if you have any questions or concerns before or after your frenectomy procedure.

Frenectomy Procedure

If you or your child have been referred for a frenectomy procedure, we encourage you to call our practice for a consultation. Dr. Smith and Dr. Stern practices a broad scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures at his practice in Grove City and Powell, OH, including frenectomy.