English
العربية
Frenectomy Surgery (Tongue Tie and Lip Tie)
A frenectomy is a surgical procedure performed in the mouth to address either a lip-tie or tongue-tie condition. This treatment can be done to enhance the movement of your tongue or to assist in closing a gap between two teeth. Frenectomy is a straightforward procedure that provides various advantages.
What is a Frenectomy?
A frenectomy is a straightforward surgery that addresses a lip tie or tongue tie by either cutting or altering the tissue that connects different areas within the mouth. This tissue, called the frenum, links surfaces together.
What are the types of frenectomies?
There are two primary categories of oral frenectomies.
Lingual frenectomy
The lingual frenum is a connection between your tongue and mouth. By placing your tongue against the roof of your mouth, you can likely sense the stretching of the lingual frenum beneath your tongue.
The size of the lingual frenum varies among individuals, and some people have naturally short lingual frenums. This limited frenum adversely affects the mobility of the tongue.
Ankyloglossia, also known as “tongue tie,” is a condition that affects approximately 5 percent of newborns, with a higher occurrence in boys compared to girls.
Tongue tie can disrupt the process of breastfeeding in the early stages of infancy and can also affect the development of speech as the child grows up.
A procedure known as lingual frenectomy can be performed to enhance the tongue’s ability to move more freely.
Maxillary Frenectomy
A maxillary frenectomy is a procedure that involves the removal of the tissue that connects the upper gums to the front teeth, which is commonly known as a lip-tie. This tissue exists in everyone, but difficulties can occur in infants when the tissue is too large or tight. Newborns who are unable to properly move their lips may encounter difficulties in breastfeeding.
In older individuals, a wide frenum can also cause a separation between the front teeth, resulting in a gap that requires orthodontic treatment when the permanent teeth emerge.
Symptoms of tongue tie and lip tie
- Strained speech
- Problems chewing food
- Difficulty extending the tongue
- Difficulty reaching the top of the mouth with the tongue.
- A notch in the tip of the tongue
- When someone’s lips do not touch each other when they are not speaking or exerting any effort.
- A gap between front teeth
What are the benefits?
Benefits of a frenectomy include:
- The process is fast and can be completed in just a few minutes.
- Recovery is speedy, with only a brief period of discomfort.
- Improvement in speech.
- Addresses issues related to nursing and nourishment in babies.
How do I prepare?
Your doctor will give you directions on how to prepare for the procedure. They may ask you to refrain from eating or drinking for a few hours before, depending on whether anesthesia is involved. Make sure to get your prescriptions filled ahead of time, so they are ready when you come back home.
What happens during this procedure?
The cutting of the frenulum in babies is done with scissors, which is a fast process that only lasts a few minutes. However, in older individuals, the healthcare provider may administer local anesthesia to numb the area around the frenulum before removing or altering it with a surgical scalpel or scissors. Sometimes, stitches may be needed to close the incision. Generally, the procedure is completed within 30 minutes or less.
Frenectomy recovery
The healing process following an oral frenectomy is usually simple.
You need to ensure that the area stays clean, a task that is easy for young patients.
For adults, it may be necessary to restrict your diet during the initial days in order to minimize the risk of infection. Consuming food that gets stuck in the affected area increases the likelihood of infection.
Following a procedure known as oral frenectomy, your doctor might recommend the usage of oral antibiotics in order to avoid the occurrence of infections or complications.
The healing process of the area should start within 24-48 hours. After a week, you will notice the formation of scars. At this point, you can go back to your regular activities without any limitations.
What are the necessary follow-up obligations and available choices?
Following a frenectomy:
- Placing children on their stomachs is not recommended as it can cause pressure on the jaw and potentially disrupt the healing process.
- It is advised that patients refrain from rinsing their mouth within the initial 24 hours. However, after approximately one day, it is recommended to rinse the mouth multiple times per day using salt water.
- You are scheduled for a follow-up appointment where you will meet with your surgeon in approximately one week.
Treatment in Türkiye:
The medical staff of surgical teams, doctors, and consultants at REHABTÜRK can provide the best treatment options and free consultations, striving to stay up-to-date on the latest medical technologies and methods.
