740-454-6644A frenulum is a small fold of tissue that stops an organ from moving too far. In the mouth, there is a frenulum between the upper lip and gums, another between the lower lip and gums, and a third under the tongue. When a frenulum is too thick or short, it can cause problems with tooth misalignment and speech. Infants with a shortened frenulum under the tongue may have trouble breastfeeding. If needed, Dr. Brian J. Waggle will remove a frenulum in Zanesville, Ohio. This process is called frenectomy.
During a frenectomy, our dentist will lift the lip or tongue and clip the frenulum. More than one cut may be required to free the tongue or lip. Stitches are usually not required and there will be little bleeding after the treatment. Complications from this procedure are rare, but they include:
- Infection at the treatment site
- Excessive bleeding
- Scar tissue formation
A frenectomy takes less than 15 minutes to perform. Using a WaterLase® MD dental laser, our dentist can correct the frenulum and free your mouth, including your tongue. If you would like to learn more about frenectomies or any of our other services, please call our Northpointe Dental at 740-454-6644 and schedule a visit with our dentist.