Frenectomy - Frequently Asked Questions | Oral Surgery Procedures (2024)

FAQs

Frenectomy - Frequently Asked Questions | Oral Surgery Procedures? ›

What is Involved in a Frenectomy? A frenectomy is an extremely short and simple procedure. Your child's head will be held securely while very sharp, sterile scissors are used to severe the frena. It takes a matter of seconds and there should be very minimal bleeding.

In most cases, minimal preparation is necessary. The procedure is fairly comfortable, so there shouldn't be any need to take any pain medication before your appointment. A local anesthetic will be applied before the frenectomy. Older children and adults may need more anesthetic than infants.

In some cases, the frenulum can even cause misalignment of teeth or gum recession. During a frenectomy, an oral surgeon will make an incision in the tissue connecting to your teeth and then either cut away or stretch the remaining tissue so that it no longer restricts movement of your upper lip or tongue.

Despite its effectiveness and low-risk nature, there are some disadvantages of having a frenectomy, which include: Uncontrolled Speech. After a frenectomy, those with tongue tie can find that they have trouble controlling their speech.

Frenectomy Diet

To avoid complications after the procedure, avoid hot foods and eat only soft foods such as pudding, yogurt, applesauce, and jello. Stay away from acidic and salty foods or extremely hot or cold foods. If your patient is a child, parents need to work to make sure children eat carefully.

The Ideal Time to Get Infant Frenectomy

For newborns that are having difficulty with feeding, the ideal timing for infant frenectomy is between 2 to 6 weeks of age.

You can eat after a frenectomy. Just avoid sharp, spicy, and acidic foods / liquids for the first 72 hours. Stick to a soft diet This includes items like spaghetti, casseroles, mashed potatoes, yogurt, and other foods that you can chew easily.

The difference in tongue length is generally a few millimeters and it may actually shorten the tongue, depending on the procedure and aftercare.

Will a Frenectomy Change Your Smile? Frenectomies aren't cosmetic surgery; they don't change the blueprint of your mouth. Although a frenotomy won't negatively alter your smile, it could actually help. Removing or clipping the frenulum can free up the top lip making your smile more noticeable.

There are two types of frenectomies: labial and lingual. Also called a maxillary frenectomy, the labial corrects lip-ties. Labial frenectomies can be performed on both the upper and lower lips; however, they more commonly occur on the upper lips.

How common is reattachment after frenectomy? ›

Reattachment. According to the limited research available, reattachment occurs in approximately 4% of frenotomy procedures.

Complications of a frenotomy are rare — but could include bleeding or infection, or damage to the tongue or salivary glands. It's also possible to have scarring or for the lingual frenulum to reattach to the base of the tongue.

Contraindications for surgical frenotomy may include oral malformations such as cleft palate, Pierre Robin Sequence, bleeding disorders, neuromuscular conditions and Vitamin K deficiency.

You may resume most normal physical activity the next day. Wait 48-hours before swimming or more strenuous activity. Some discomfort and discolorations are to be expected following a frenectomy. In addition, some bruising of the tongue is common.

Post-surgery exercises (AWC) are the key to an optimal result. The main risk of a frenectomy is that the mouth will heal very quickly and the tissue may prematurely reattach at either the tongue or lip site, causing a new limitation in mobility and the persistence or return of symptoms.

The lingual frenectomy is more difficult to manage post-operatively. Dr. Lentfer recommends performing stretches no less than every six hours for 4-6 weeks. The stretches are not easy, but it is so important to perform them regularly to help your child have the best chance of success with the release.

Not to worry, a labial frenectomy is a quick and pain-free procedure that is done in one visit.

It takes between two or three weeks for the surgical site to heal completely. A laser frenectomy has an even shorter recovery period; the surgical site could heal fully in a week or two. The doctor will provide thorough after-care instructions covering pain management, feeding, and cleaning the surgical site.

Preparing For The Procedure

Having a familiar face can help provide comfort and support. Pack a bag with comforting items such as their favorite stuffed animal or blanket. These familiar objects can help reduce anxiety and provide a sense of security.

Many adults are nervous to have a frenectomy as many people think this type of procedure may negatively affect their speech afterward. There are different side effects that can possibly occur after having a frenectomy, but speech isn't known to be one.