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Frenulectomy

Surgical removal or reshaping of the frenulum

 

Frenulectomy is a simple surgical procedure used to remove or reshape the frenulum — a thin band of tissue that connects the lips or tongue to surrounding oral structures. This intervention can significantly improve speech, chewing, and oral hygiene, while also preventing potential orthodontic and periodontal issues.

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Imed Frenulum Jezika Anatomija

  • Minimal surgical procedure under local anesthesia

    Fast and safe

    Immediate improvement in functionality

    For children and adults

  • Minimal surgical procedure under local anesthesia

    Fast and safe

    Immediate improvement in functionality

    For children and adults

  • Minimal surgical procedure under local anesthesia

    Fast and safe

    Immediate improvement in functionality

    For children and adults

  • Minimal surgical procedure under local anesthesia

    Fast and safe

    Immediate improvement in functionality

    For children and adults

  • Minimal surgical procedure under local anesthesia

    Fast and safe

    Immediate improvement in functionality

    For children and adults

  • Minimal surgical procedure under local anesthesia

    Fast and safe

    Immediate improvement in functionality

    For children and adults

  • Minimal surgical procedure under local anesthesia

    Fast and safe

    Immediate improvement in functionality

    For children and adults

  • Minimal surgical procedure under local anesthesia

    Fast and safe

    Immediate improvement in functionality

    For children and adults

  • Minimal surgical procedure under local anesthesia

    Fast and safe

    Immediate improvement in functionality

    For children and adults

  • Minimal surgical procedure under local anesthesia

    Fast and safe

    Immediate improvement in functionality

    For children and adults

  • Minimal surgical procedure under local anesthesia

    Fast and safe

    Immediate improvement in functionality

    For children and adults

  • Minimal surgical procedure under local anesthesia

    Fast and safe

    Immediate improvement in functionality

    For children and adults

  • Minimal surgical procedure under local anesthesia

    Fast and safe

    Immediate improvement in functionality

    For children and adults

  • Minimal surgical procedure under local anesthesia

    Fast and safe

    Immediate improvement in functionality

    For children and adults

  • Minimal surgical procedure under local anesthesia

    Fast and safe

    Immediate improvement in functionality

    For children and adults

Frenulum Gornje Usne Dijete

What is the frenulum?

The frenulum is a thin fold of mucous membrane that connects the lip or tongue to the surrounding tissue in the oral cavity. There are 7 frenula in the oral cavity – three in each jaw and one under the tongue.

 

In dentistry, we distinguish the labial frenulum, which connects the upper or lower lip to the gums, the lingual frenulum, which connects the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth, and the buccal frenula, which connect the cheeks to the gingiva. Difficulties most often occur with the tongue frenulum and the upper lip frenulum.

 

When the frenulum is too tight, short, thickened, or positioned in an inappropriate way that restricts tongue movement, it can cause numerous problems. Some of these problems include:

 

  • Gum recession if the frenulum attachment is close to the tooth

  • Pain during oral hygiene

  • Speech problems

  • Difficulties with eating and swallowing

  • Neck tension and headaches

  • Mouth breathing

  • Sleep apnea

  • Inability to breastfeed

Imed Frenulum Jezika Dijete

What is a frenulectomy and when is it needed

 

Frenulectomy is a surgical procedure for removing or reshaping the frenulum to improve the mobility of the lip or tongue, thereby enhancing speech function, chewing, and the overall aesthetics of the smile. It is performed on infants, children, and adults, depending on the issue. It is important to emphasize that the indication for frenulectomy is poor tongue function, not its appearance!

This procedure is recommended for patients with:

 

  • Short lingual frenulum

This condition can cause difficulties with speech, feeding, development of dental arches, mouth breathing, neck tension, and the like. In babies, it causes difficulty breastfeeding, increased reflux, and frequent nursing. Frenulectomy allows greater tongue mobility and facilitates these functions.

 

  • Problematic upper lip frenulum

If the frenulum is too large or positioned too low, it can cause a gap between the front teeth, difficulties during breastfeeding, and challenges in maintaining oral hygiene. The procedure can reduce these difficulties.

Imed Skraceni Jezicni Frenulum

What does the frenulectomy process involve?

 

To achieve a successful frenulectomy result, myofunctional therapy and physical therapy are required before and after the procedure – this is the key to success, and without it, we do not perform the surgery.

 

After that, a dentist or oral surgeon’s examination is necessary to assess the current condition of the frenulum and determine whether the procedure is needed. The procedure itself is performed under local anesthesia, during which the problematic frenulum is removed or reshaped using a laser, scalpel, or electrocautery. At IMED Polyclinic, we perform frenulectomies with a diode laser.

 

The goal of the procedure is to allow the tongue to rest on the palate during the resting phase, in order to naturally encourage palate expansion and enable proper tooth positioning in the jaw. This position promotes correct nasal breathing and enables proper breastfeeding in infants.

 

Depending on which frenulum is operated on, recovery can last from 2 weeks to one month. During the recovery period, it is recommended to eat soft food with special attention to maintaining oral hygiene.

Frenulektomija Logoped Terapija S Djetetom

When is the best time to perform a frenulectomy?

 

The ideal time to perform the procedure is soon after birth, before the child has developed compensations. This way, we avoid problems that may arise in the future.

 

Since the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, we perform frenulectomies up to 1 year of life, after which there is a pause until 5 years of life. The reason is that it is difficult to establish cooperation with the child during this period, and exercises are necessary for the success of the procedure.

 

After 5 years of age, we continue with the procedures, and there is no upper age limit for frenulectomy.

Meet Your Doctor

Dr. Lana Skorić has years of experience successfully performing frenulectomies on both children and adults. Thanks to her gentle and precise approach, patients enjoy fast, painless recovery and long-term functional improvement.

If you or your child are experiencing issues caused by the frenulum, don’t wait – contact us and schedule an appointment today.

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