Frenectomy

A frenulum is a tiny muscle that that attaches your upper lip to the gums, while another connects the lower lip to the gums. A frenulum that is too short or thick, will cause gum recession and tooth misalignment. This can lead to gum infection and tooth loss.

A frenectomy is a minor surgical procedure that is performed in our office. It can be performed with either a scalpel or laser and takes less than 15 minutes. Using a laser causes very little bleeding and usually does not require stitches. A laser also results in less postoperative discomfort and a shorter healing time. Young children and infants are put under general anesthesia for the procedure and adults have the procedure performed using local anesthesia. This procedure is very common, and causes little discomfort in the average patient.