Frenums and the Frenectomy Procedure

There are several locations in and on your body where the frenum is located. It is a quite diminutive and small fold of skin that secures or restricts the motion to the area where it is attached. This review is focused on your mouth. There are two frenum’s in your oral cavity. The lingual frenum is located between the base of your tongue and the floor of your mouth. You will find the labial frenum in your upper arch. This is the tissue that connects your gums and cheeks to the lips, found in front of your two front teeth.

What Happens if the Frenum is Malformed or Damaged?

The tiny flaps of skin located in your mouth serve a purpose. The lingual frenum found under your tongue helps you with proper speech, swallowing, and controlling the actual movement of your tongue. The labial frenum attaches your upper lip to the center of your gums between the two front teeth. A malformed frenum under your tongue will contribute to possible speech difficulties. A frenum that is too wide or too long on your upper arch will end up creating a gap or space between your two front teeth. A severe blow to your head or face will sometimes tear this small flap of skin and also necessitate some corrective surgery.

What is a Frenectomy?

A frenectomy is a simple corrective surgery to either fix or repair the frenum in question. Only local anesthesia is needed to complete the procedure. The procedure is performed by a general family dentist, an oral surgeon, or another specialist. The dentist may use a scalpel to cut and reduce the size of the frenum, or if the dental team has a dental laser that is designed for cutting soft tissue, this can be used. Sometimes the dentist may prefer to both cut and reshape the malformed or damaged frenum.

What are the Benefits of Having a Frenectomy

Having your lingual frenum corrected might make a dramatic difference in either your speech or your swallowing abilities if your frenum has these movements constricted. This is a situation often called being tongue-tied. Having your labial frenum corrected may make the objectives of the orthodontist trying to correct the gap in front teeth considerably easier to achieve. With either frenum, the recovery has been likened to the discomfort you feel in your mouth when eating hot pizza. Some regular mouthwash rinses, a couple of post-operative checkups, and you will be good to go.

Regular Checkups

A frenectomy can be performed at any age. It is a simple and easy procedure and might be the answer to providing you with a lifetime of smiles. Your smile is the foundation for your self-confidence and self-esteem. The health industry strongly recommends preventive checkups twice a year. Your mouth, the teeth, the gums, and soft tissues are considerably more complex than we realize. Brushing your teeth twice a day carefully and flossing once a day goes a long way in maintaining your healthy smile and every facet of your life that your smile influences.

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