A frenectomy is a surgical procedure that removes or alters a frenulum, a small band of tissue in the mouth. The procedure can be performed on infants and children.
What is a frenulum?
A frenulum is a small piece of tissue that connects two structures in the body.
There are two main types of frenula in the mouth: the lingual frenulum and the labial frenulum.
The lingual frenulum is the band of tissue that connects the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth.
The labial frenulum is the band of tissue that connects the upper and lower lips to the gums.
Why is a frenectomy performed?
A frenectomy can be performed to correct tongue-tie or lip-tie.
A frenectomy can also be performed to improve a patient's range of motion or to close a gap in their teeth.
A frenectomy can also improve breastfeeding for infants.
