Our dentists in Cape Town offer a wide range of dental and orthodontic services, which include frenectomies.

In this article, we explain everything you need to know about a frenectomy.

What is a Frenectomy?

A frenectomy, often referred to as a frenulectomy, is a surgical procedure that aims to treat tongue-tie or lip-tie by cutting or modifying a problematic frenum.

The frenum is a small band of thin connective tissue which joins the lips to the gums (both top and bottom) and the tongue to the bottom of the mouth.

Frena (the plural term for frenum) are a normal part of the anatomy, however, if they are too short or tight, they can cause a number of issues.

Issues caused by short frena include:

• Limited lip movement (in lip-tie)
• Limited range of motion for the tongue (in tongue-tie)
• Receding gums which can cause secondary issues such as cavities and gingivitis
• Pain and discomfort especially when eating or brushing teeth
• Diastema (the medical term for a gap between the front teeth) which can be visually displeasing to some
• Difficulty feeding (breastfeeding or bottle feeding) in babies
• Speech impairment

Types of Frenectomies

There are two main types of oral frenectomies which can be done:

Labial Frenectomy

This procedure is used to rectify lip-tie by removing or modifying the frenum that connects your lips to your gums. An inferior labial frenectomy is performed on the frenum which connects the lower lip to the lower gums while a superior labial frenectomy corrects the frenum which connects the upper lip to the gums above the front teeth. Superior labial frenectomies are more common than inferior frenectomies.

Lingual Frenectomy

Lingual frenectomy is performed on patients with tongue-tie. In other words, the frenum which connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth is too short or tight.

What Happens During an Oral Frenectomy?

An oral frenectomy is a relatively simple procedure which shouldn’t take longer than 30 minutes. Your doctor will administer a local anesthetic if necessary. Once the area is numb, a scalpel or surgical scissor is used to snip the frenum. In some cases, stitches may be necessary.

Frenectomy Recovery

The recovery process is generally quick and straightforward. Infants will be able to resume feeding right away, while older children and adults may need to sip on liquids for the first few hours after the procedure and soft foods for a day or two until there is no more pain and discomfort.

Our doctors will provide you with pain-relief medication if necessary and will advise you further on what to do to avoid complications during the healing period.

Dental & Ortho Clinics in Cape Town

We offer a wide range of dental and orthodontic services in Cape Town, including Wynberg, Blaauwberg, Greenpoint, and Claremont. If you or your child has issues with shortened frena, please don’t hesitate to book a consultation.

Our friendly and experienced doctors will provide you with all the advice you need to put your mind at ease before, during, and after your frenectomy.