Frenectomy

Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania can perform a frenectomy to correct a number of issues patients may have with their teeth, lips, and tongue. A frenectomy can increase the range of motion of the tongue to allow a child to position the tongue normally in the palate, if they weren’t able to do so before. This surgery will also help improve eating habits and speaking, over time.

A frenectomy is a procedure to remove the frenum, or muscular attachment between two tissues, from the mouth. The frenum found between the front teeth (either upper or lower) connects the inner aspect of the lip with the gum. Removing this attachment is called a labial frenectomy. Patients who have receding gums can benefit from this procedure, because a strong frenum from the gum to the lip can cause extra pulling on the gums and lead to further recession.

Another frenum in your mouth is underneath your tongue, and removing this is called a lingual frenectomy.  Patients that have an enlarged frenum underneath their tongue will not be able to move their tongue freely, which can interfere with speech. Lingual frenectomies are typically performed on young patients, who can recover quickly and continue to develop their speech.

To learn more about frenectomies and all the services we provide at our practice, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141.