Your Choice For Specialized Periodontal Treatment
As a Harvard University and Columbia University trained periodontist in Marin County, CA, Dr. Michael Seda offers a wide range of periodontal and dental implant services to Marin County and San Francisco, CA. We treat referred and non-referred patients in a peaceful, modern setting, and are committed to partnering with all of our patients throughout their treatment. We are committed to exceeding expectations, and provide the highest level of dental care, to achieve the ultimate goal of optimal oral health for all of our patients
Frenulectomy or Frenectomy
A frenulectomy (or frenectomy) is a common procedure that is performed to correct a variety of medical problems related to the frenulum. These issues are most often diagnosed in children, but can occasionally be found in adults. The frenulectomy is a simple procedure that requires the patient’s frenulum to be removed. While the most common was to perform this procedure is by cutting and removing the frenulum with a scalpel, Dr. Seda uses a laser to perform this procedure. The makes the procedure quicker, bloodless, and less painful during the healing process.
The body has multiple frenums. These small pieces of tissue connect your tongue, lips, and cheeks to your gums. Most frenulectomy procedures are required for issues that are found within the mouth, particularly the lingual frenum and the maxillary labial frenum.
The lingual frenum is what can cause a patient to be “tongue-tied.” This occurs when the lingual frenulum, which connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth, runs to the tip of the tongue. The maxillary labial frenum attaches the upper lip and gums above the top two front teeth.
At Marin Contemporary Perio and Implant Concepts, we offer a wide range of periodontal and dental implant services. We treat referred and non-referred patients in a peaceful, modern setting, and are committed to partnering with all our patients throughout their treatment. We are committed to exceeding expectations and providing the highest level of dental care to achieve the ultimate goal of optimal oral health for all of our patients.
If you or your child is scheduled for a frenulectomy, or if you have any questions about the procedure, please contact our staff who will be happy to answer any questions or help you set up an appointment.
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Frenulectomy for Children
Children whose frenums are overly sized can experience a range of uncomfortable issues, including difficult speaking, a condition often referred to as “tongue tied.” Other issues that can develop include:
- Frenulum getting stuck between teeth
- Difficulty nursing/breastfeeding
- Difficulty sticking their tongue out
- Receding gums, which can result in periodontal disease
Frenulectomy for Adults
Adults who have an over-sized frenulum can experience a wide range of issues, including problems with speech. Oftentimes, people who experience frenulum issues due to tongue limitations will learn to compensate, despite challenges they face being audible and articulating when speaking at high or low volumes.
A tight frenulum can also make the process of chewing food difficult, because your tongue is unable to move freely inside of your mouth. This also results in difficulty swallowing. frenulectomy can help address this issue and improve the patient’s ability to eat.
Additional dental issues can develop when patients have improperly sized frenums, because food is unable to move around in the mouth properly, which limits an individual’s ability to clean their molars due to limited range of motion of the tongue. This can lead to decay over time, as excess food particles become lodged between teeth.
The Frenulectomy Procedure
A frenulectomy is a less invasive procedure than having a tooth filled. To reduce any discomfort you may feel during the procedure, your dentist will begin by administering a local anesthetic. Once numbed, your dentist will use a specialty laser to reduce the tissue and minimize your discomfort. Chances of an infection are reduced as the laser instantly sanitizes the area. This also helps speed the healing process.
In order for newborns to feed properly, they may need to have a lip tie or tongue tie surgery to free the lingual frenulum underneath the tongue. Oftentimes newborns are able to feed right after the procedure, as the recovery happens almost instantly.
Older children may be given a mild anesthetic before the frenulum is separated using the laser treatment. In more severe cases, patients may require some sutures following the procedure.
The entire process typically only takes between 15 and 30 minutes.
Consequence of no Treatment
If left untreated, there are a range of issues that can occur, including the following:
- Crowded teeth
- Limited jaw growth
- Altered or limited development of dental arches
- Limited oro-facial muscle movement
- Deep or over closed bite
- Messy eating and/or improper swallowing
- Inadequate lip seal
- Chronic mouth breathing
- Nasal sinus congestion or airway constriction
- Periodontal disease
Post Procedure Aftercare
There is no special post-treatment process that is required following a frenulectomy, although it is important to schedule a follow up appointment in order to ensure that the treatment has been successful and is healing properly.
Aside from that, the most important thing you can do is continue practicing good oral hygiene habits. Be sure to continue brushing your teeth twice daily and for at least two minutes each time. Be sure to also continue flossing regularly. Along with these important at home care practices, the best thing you can do to continue enjoying your healthy smile is to schedule regular visits every six months. During these routine checkups, your periodontist is able to conduct deep cleanings and monitor the overall state of your oral health, catching issues before they develop.
Cost of Frenulectomy
Like most dental procedures, the cost of your procedure will be determined by a variety of factors, such as the severity of your case, where you are located geographically, and what type of insurance plan you currently have. Our practice does accept most dental insurance programs, including non-managed care, indemnity (traditional), and PPO out-of-network.
Our staff will be happy to submit a pre-treatment estimate to your insurance company so you can determine what your benefits will be. Or, if you are not currently covered by insurance or have concerns about the final cost, our staff will be happy to discuss other financial arrangements.
High Quality Periodontal Care You Can Trust
When you come to Marin Contemporary Perio and Implant Concepts, you can expect a friendly and professional dental team. Dr. Seda will listen carefully to your dental goals and provide a custom treatment plan that works with your budget and needs. We want you to fall in love with your smile again, so all our services are performed with the patient in mind. We want you to feel comfortable in the dental chair, and to feel confident in our services.
At Marin Contemporary Perio and Implant Concepts, we aim to provide cutting edge perio and implant solutions in a comfortable and relaxed environment, where patients feel we put them first. Scheduling an appointment for osseous surgery is the first step towards being confident in your smile once again. To schedule an appointment, please contact us today at (415) 482-9901.