Frenectomies

At Creditview Dental in Mississauga, our dentists can perform frenectomies to remove the frenum when it is limiting movement in the mouth, most commonly in babies and children.

Types of Frenums

A frenum is a small piece of tissue that connects your cheeks, tongue or lips to your gum area. The restriction of any of these frenums is a natural condition that babies are born with.

• Lingual Frenum (Tongue-Tie)

  The lingual frenum is the tissue that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. When this frenum restricts movement in the mouth, it’s referred to as a tongue-tie.

• Labial Frenum (Lip-Tie)

  The labial frenum is the tissue that connects the lips to the bottom of your upper and lower gums. When this frenum restricts movement in the mouth, it’s referred to as a lip-tie.

• Buccal Frenum (Cheek-Tie)

  The buccal frenum is the tissue that connects the gums to the inside of the cheeks. When this frenum restricts movement in the mouth, it’s referred to as a cheek-tie. 

The Procedure

A frenectomy procedure usually lasts only 10 to 15 minutes, during which your dentist will cut the frenum to free the tongue, lip or cheek.

Recovery generally takes about 2 weeks, during which time the patient may receive pain medication to help with any soreness.

Proper aftercare procedures include keeping the area clean and avoiding unnecessary movement of the tongue.