Labial Frenectomy

The frenum is a very small, soft piece of tissue located in your mouth. The frenum, which is found below your tongue, is called the lingual frenum. Its primary function is to help control your tongue with your speech and your swallowing mechanism. The labial frenum is found on the roof of your mouth. It is located between your upper lip and your two front teeth. This small piece of tissue helps with your natural speech patterns. In the event of an accident and your labial frenum is torn, or in the situation of an oversized labial frenum, very simple surgery can be performed to repair the frenum or to make the frenum smaller and more normal in size.

Why have a Labial Frenectomy?

If your labial frenum has excessive tissue, you can have a condition called lip tie. This will cause pain for some patients, difficulties with eating and speaking, and even cause your gums to recede. Something which happens often is that an enlarged labial frenum will cause a large gap between your two front teeth. Before any orthodontic correction, the frenum will need to be reduced to ensure the braces will work. An oversized frenum will affect the wearing of dentures, resulting in the upper dentures frequently coming dislodged. A labial frenectomy may benefit your bite pattern as well, or it could be suggested for cosmetic benefits.

The Labial Frenectomy Procedure

The simple traditional method is that with local anesthesia, the dentist will use a small surgical knife or scalpel. Once your frenum is numb, the excessive tissue can be removed with a small excision, and possibly dissolvable sutures can be used at the site of the incision. Any blood loss is minimal with this traditional method.

A more recent successful method is to use a dental laser. The laser beam is incredibly precise and will be focused on the target site, and then both cut the excess tissue and coagulate the healthy tissue at the site. You will experience absolutely no blood loss with this approach.

A third method is using a heated electrode and burning the excess or abnormal tissue. Having the thermal cautery approach also involves no blood loss.

Recovery From a Labial Frenectomy

The procedure itself will only take between 30 minutes and an hour. Depending on the specific amount of tissue removed, there are very few recovery concerns. Occasionally, one could experience very slight excessive bleeding, or possibly some pain or bruising around the surgical site, or even minor swelling in the lips and gums. As with any wound, during the healing process, there is the possibility of an infection. Saltwater gargles may be suggested in your post-operative care, including an ice pack for a few days and possibly an over-the-counter pain reliever. It is important to keep your mouth clean, and teeth clean. You may need to consider your diet. Softer foods will be beneficial as well, and no hot or spicy foods. A complete recovery will be made in a few days to a week. A labial frenectomy can be performed on all ages, from infants to geriatrics.

Related Article: Lingual Frenectomy