What is a Frenectomy?
During a frenectomy, your dentist will quickly and safely remove the connective tissue called the frenum. To ensure a pain-free procedure, Dr. Rosen uses the latest dental techniques and most advanced technology. We provide minimally-invasive frenectomy procedures for children and adults, to mitigate both cosmetic and health concerns.
When you visit us for a frenectomy, we will begin by administering local anesthesia to numb the area. If you experience dental anxiety, we will talk about gentle sedation to help ease your nerves as well.
In the procedure, we will remove either the labial or lingual frenum using laser technology or a small blade. Then, we will remove the underlying tissue to ensure the frenum doesn’t grow back. Depending on your case and specific needs, we may or may not suture the site. Generally, our laser technology prevents bleeding, and, therefore, eliminates the need for sutures. We decide these measures on a case-by-case basis.
Frenectomy Recovery
Since we use only the best dental technology, your recovery time from a frenectomy procedure will be fairly quick. You may experience some soreness but you should be able to manage your pain with over-the-counter medications.
Due to discomfort, you might want to eat only soft foods, such as soups, mashed potatoes, and applesauce, for one to two weeks following your procedure. After two weeks, you should be completely back to normal.
A Candidate for this Pain-Free Procedure
We see both children and adults for frenectomies. Many times, we recommend a frenectomy before any orthodontic work takes place. This is because an overly prominent labial frenum can cause a gap in the two front teeth. Even with orthodontic work, this gap can prevail.
Not only is this a cosmetic issue but gaps can also cause health problems. In fact, gaps in your teeth can invite bacteria and plaque to stay in your mouth for longer periods of time.
Other than forming gaps in your teeth, your frenum can pull on your gum tissue. This causes excessive irritation or even gum recession. Over time, gum recession could result in loose or loss of teeth, which would then affect your bite and jawline.
In addition to these concerns, an overgrown frenum causes chronic pain and irritation. Since the frenum can push teeth apart and pull on gums, chronic pain will endure until frenum removal.
In other cases, we see overgrown lingual frenums. When the lingual frenum is too large, you or your child may struggle with eating and speaking. In many cases, pediatric doctors refer new moms to the dentist for lingual frenectomy procedures so their children can feed normally.
Your Dentist for a Quick, Pain-Free Frenectomy
If you have issues with your frenum, then it’s time to speak to a professional. Here at Michael T. Rosen, DDS, MS, FAGD, LVIF, we want to help you get a beautiful, functional smile. Give us a call at (302) 994-0979 to schedule a consultation.
