A Frenum is a fold of soft tissue or muscle connecting the lips, cheek, or tongue to the jawbone. Occasionally a frenum might be exceptionally short, thick, or tight, or may extend too far down along the tongue or the gum. This can cause issues with tooth alignment or be restricting the movement of the tongue or lips. The frenectomy procedure can correct this problem.
Orthodontics – Sometimes a frenum can be attached too high on the gums. This can cause either gum recession or spaces to appear between teeth. The procedure to remove this is called a labial frenectomy. The process involves the removal of soft tissue attachment between the two upper front teeth. Without treatment of the frenum, the gap between the teeth can extend and become more pronounced. This can occur even after the gap has been initially closed via orthodontic treatment such as braces or Invisalign.
Tongue Tied – A lingual frenectomy is the removal of the lingual frenum or the tissue under the tongue. If this particular frenum is too restricting it can interfere with speech.
Dentures – When a denture patient’s lips move, the prominent frenum can pull and loosen the denture causing it to dislodge. By removing this frenum tissue it helps the dentures to stay in place.
The frenectomy procedure is a simple laser surgical procedure that generally takes less than thirty minutes to complete. The laser surgery tends to causes minimal bleeding and results in a little bit of post-procedure discomfort which can be managed with painkillers. The treatment will be performed under local anaesthetic and there will no discomfort during the treatment.
The soft tissues will usually take a couple of weeks to completely heal. Patients can take medication like Ibuprofen to relieve any pain that might occur. Patients are also advised to rinse with salt water or Chlorhexidine mouthwash in order to keep the surgical area clean. Gentle brushing of the teeth is also required.
Our experienced specialist will carry out the procedure for you.
Consultation for laser frenectomy/tongue tied correction costs £80 with our gum specialist (Periodontist). Treatment costs between £295-£395 depending on complexity. The specialist will provide a full written quote for the procedure during the consultation visit and we can often carry out the laser frenectomy procedure on the consultation visit if you wish to proceed. Please note that we provide frenectomy for patients who are 16 years and over.
Pearl Dental Clinic is open 7 days a week from 9am to 10pm so that you can have your treatment without having to take time off work. You can book a Frenectomy Consultation by calling us on 0208 547 9997 or by emailing us or book an appointment online (available 24 hours/day).
