Frenectomy
Wilmington, DE
 The frenum is a part of the mouth that not many people have heard of before. As a result, frenectomies aren't very well known. At Delaware Periodontics, we do recommend and offer frenectomies to our patients.
What Is a Frenum?
A frenum is an accessory band of tissue that runs from our lips or tongue to our gums. There are many throughout the mouth but the most common are the upper and lower midline and the tongue.
Frenums have no functional purpose. Sometimes they can grow wrong and attach too close to the teeth causing a pulling or stretching effect on the lips, gum, or tongue. This can frequently lead to gum recession.
Types of Frenectomies
There are often two types of surgeries that can be done to fix your frenum, depending on which one needs servicing. If a lingual frenum is too long and affects how the tongue works, then surgery on the lingual frenum will reduce the size. Our dentist will provide guidance on which one is right for you at your visit.
For a labial frenum, the biggest issue is it causes retraction of the gum tissue and can cause recession. This surgery is designed to remove this irritation and is often combined with a gingival graft.
The Purpose of A Frenectomy
The procedure is designed to remove the undesirable effects that a frenum might be causing in your mouth. For example, the surgery might reduce a frenum that has grown too long into one that is the proper size. The surgery is relatively short, and we often give you local anesthesia.
We will numb the area when operating. The procedure will then be performed with a scalpel, electrosurgery, or laser technology, depending on what needs to be done. Regardless of what we use, the excess is simply cut away. Once the surgery is complete, we will close the wound with switches, and you will have to take some anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the pain.
You probably will not know you need a frenectomy until a dentist tells you that you need one. However, the surgery is not that scary or even a long process. Once it is done, you will be back to eating, talking, and swallowing just like your old self. If you think you might have frenum problems, then check in to Delaware Periodontics at 302-551-3553 today.
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