Tongue-tied? An expression used daily; however, there is science behind it. A tongue tie or a lip tie is medically called a frenum. Although your mouth usually contains frenum, serving as a support, sometimes they can produce problems and require removal. This process is called frenectomy.
A frenum is a band of tissue that connects two mouth structures. There are two common types of frenum: labial and lingual. A labial frenum is commonly known as a lip tie. In this type, the frenum connects the upper gum to the front teeth. As the lip is fixed, this can cause problems with lip movements, affecting mouth movements and chewing.
The other type is the lingual frenum, known as tongue tie. This one is more famous in newborns. Here, the frenum extends from the undersurface of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. This type can cause problems with speech and pronunciation, and that’s why parents are usually eager to correct this problem so it won’t affect their baby’s speech.
What is a Frenectomy Procedure
A frenectomy is a procedure that involves altering or completely removing the frenum. Your dentist usually discusses the three approaches to the procedure with you, and together, you pick the most convenient for you.
Types of Frenectomy
- Scalpel Method: This traditional method involves using a scalpel to cut the frenum, releasing it from its attachment. While effective, it tends to be more painful, with higher risks of bleeding and infection compared to other methods.
- Electrosurgery: This is a newer technique where heat generated by an electric current is used to cut the frenum. It’s an improvement over the scalpel method, reducing pain and bleeding. However, it can pose risks such as interfering with pacemakers and causing gum burns.
- CO2 Laser: The most advanced method employs a CO2 laser to sever the frenum. Many consider this method the safest and most effective, offering minimal pain, little bleeding, and quicker, more natural gum healing.
What is the best age to do a Frenectomy?
For a lingual frenectomy or a tongue tie, it’s better to do it a couple of weeks after birth. For lip ties, as soon as it produces a problem, it should be done.
Before the procedure, your dentist will discuss with you methods of sedation. In infants, usually, no sedation is needed. In older ages, you may need to choose between using numbing cream, inhaling laughing gas (nitrous oxide), or undergoing general anaesthesia.
When is a frenectomy needed?
Frenums can be found normally in the mouth and don’t impose any problems. However, in certain conditions, the frenum can be too short or too tight, which can then cause issues.
- Gum problems: this is common in lip tie. As the frenum attaches to your gum, this can cause the plaque— which is made up of bacteria and food remnants— to build up within your gum. This can increase the risk of gum infection and poor mouth odour, in addition to a plethora of other gum-related problems.
- Gum recession: the pull of the frenum band on the gum can cause a backward pull of the gum, leaving the covered surface of the teeth exposed. It can make the teeth look off and can increase the risk of teeth loss.
- Aesthetic problems: the labial frenum can produce something called midline diastema. It is the condition where a gap exists between two of your teeth. The gap can cause aesthetic problems.
- Lip movement can be limited in lip ties, and this can make your lip lose its main function. Problems with chewing and speaking can be there.
- Tongue ties can cause speech problems, especially with young infants, who are just beginning to learn how to pronounce and speak.
Benefits of Frenectomy
In addition to being a simple procedure with minimal side effects, doing a frenectomy can help you improve a lot of problems, including:
- Improved breastfeeding for your infant after releasing the tongue tie.
- Improved speech and pronunciation.
- Closure of the diastema (a gap between the teeth) gives you a more confident smile.
- Better gum health.
Frenectomy recovery
For infants, the procedure is fairly simple, and recovery time is fast. Here are some tips to ease the recovery for your newborn:
- Expect the baby to be more fussy than usual; this is normal as they just underwent a procedure. Try pacifying them as much as possible.
- The baby might face some difficulties with breastfeeding; however, this will gradually improve over time.
- As the baby might have difficulty breastfeeding, try finding another alternative as bottle formula.
- Give pain medications as indicated.
For adults, we can offer several tips to ensure a smooth recovery from a frenectomy.
- Although the pain will differ according to the type of frenectomy, pain medication should provide good control.
- Try eating non-irritable foods, not too sour or spicy. Otherwise, it can irritate the wound and increase the risk of infection.
- Minimize the risk of infection by brushing and flossing to keep the area clean.
Frenectomy Cost in Turkey
Known for high quality of care and better affordability, dental work in Turkey is gaining rising popularity. A frenectomy can cost up to $1500 in the US, while in Turkey, the procedure is generally more affordable.
Why DentSpa?
Choosing where to receive a frenectomy is crucial, and DentSpa stands out as a premier option for several compelling reasons:
- Top Notch Staff: something as important as frenectomy requires a high degree of skill and accuracy. Here at DentSpa, we pride ourselves on boosting highly trained, skilled, and well-respected professionals. This ensures the optimum quality of care is provided for you.
- Excellent material: as we believe that only the best should be offered to our clientele, we invest in only the highest quality dental material. Not only does this provide a pleasant experience, but also ensures good longevity of the offered care.
- State-of-the-art technology: We provide only the newest and most advanced instruments and devices in our practice. This is to facilitate the provided procedure, eventually creating a pleasant experience for you.
Looking for a solution to your lip tie? Contact us immediately at DentSpa and book your appointment to receive the care you deserve.
Related Post
- Defend Your Smile Against Nighttime Teeth Grinding Menace
- Revitalize Your Smile In Turkey Through Dental Implants!
- Medical Tourism In Turkey
- Navigating Tooth Pain with Root Canal Treatment in Turkey
- Invisalign VS Braces – Which Is Better?
- Your Guide to Understanding and Managing Impacted Tooth
- Hollywood Smile Turkey 2024
- Radiant Smiles: Your Guide to Dental Braces in Turkey
- How Your City Choice Impacts Dental Care in Turkey
- How A Smile Makeover Treatment Can Ruin Your Smile