Understanding Frenectomy Dental Care
A frenectomy is a quick, minor procedure, but can have life-changing implications for those that need it. For infants and young children, restrictive frenulum tissue may interfere with breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, keeping them from getting proper nutrition. For older children and adults, it can affect speech, oral hygiene, dental alignment, and overall comfort. A frenectomy can be performed at any age, including for newborn babies, when clinically appropriate.
Led by pediatric care specialist Dr. Irene Shuman, DDS, Bergen Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery now offers frenectomy care for all ages, newborns through adulthood. In this article, we’ll explain what a frenectomy is, when it may be recommended, and what to expect before, during, and after treatment, giving you the information you need for your child’s or your own oral health.
Key Takeaways:
- A frenectomy dental procedure releases restrictive oral tissue affecting function
- Bergen Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery provides frenectomies for newborns through adults
- Dr. Irene Shuman, DDS specializes in pediatric frenectomy care
- Same-day evaluation and treatment may be available when care is urgent
- Dual-degree oral surgeons support advanced surgical and anesthesia needs
What’s a Frenectomy?
A frenectomy is a surgical procedure designed to release, stretch, or reshape the frenulum, allowing a wider range of motion in the lips and tongue.
The frenulum (also called a frenum) is a small piece of connective tissue that joins two parts of the body. In the mouth, the lingual frenulum connects the tongue to the lower jaw tissue, while labial frenulums connect the upper and lower lips to the gums.
When a frenulum is unusually short, tight, or thick, it can restrict normal movement. Often called a tongue-tie or lip-tie, this restriction can create functional challenges that start in infancy and continue through adulthood.
Types of Frenectomies
The location of the affected frenulum determines the diagnosis, potential complications, and recommended treatment.
| Type of Frenectomy | Area Treated | Common Reasons It’s Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Lingual Frenectomy (Tongue-Tie) | Frenulum under the tongue | Difficulty breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, limited tongue movement, speech delays, oral hygiene challenges |
| Upper Labial Frenectomy (Upper Lip-Tie) | Frenulum connecting the upper lip to the gums | Feeding issues in infants, gap between front teeth, gum tension, orthodontic concerns |
| Lower Labial Frenectomy (Lower Lip-Tie) | Frenulum connecting the lower lip to the gums | Gum irritation, discomfort, interference with oral hygiene or dental alignment |
The good news is that not every frenulum issue requires surgery. Proper evaluation by an experienced provider is essential to determine whether treatment is the right course of action for you or your child.
Why Is a Frenectomy Needed?
A frenectomy may be recommended for a child or adult when a tight or overgrown frenulum causes functional challenges that interfere with feeding, speech, oral health, or your overall comfort.
In young children, tongue-ties and lip-ties can cause problems with latching and feeding, preventing them from getting the nutrition they need. As infants grow into toddlers and adulthood, a restrictive frenulum can cause speech delays and impediments, difficulty eating certain foods, oral hygiene challenges, dental spacing and alignment issues, sleep-related breathing issues, and even ongoing discomfort or other dental concerns.
Signs You or Your Child May Need a Frenectomy
Signs of a tongue-tie or lip-tie in newborns include:
- Difficulty latching and feeding
- Poor weight gain
- Milk leaking from the mouth while feeding
- Clicking or smacking sounds during feeding
As an infant grows, additional symptoms may appear, including:
- Speech delays or impediments
- Limited tongue mobility
- Difficulty eating
- Mouth breathing
- Dental issues like gaps in the teeth and gum recession
In adults, symptoms can include:
- Sleep apnea or airway concerns due to tongue position
- Difficulty maintaining good oral hygiene
- Gum irritation or chronic discomfort
A qualified dental professional can assess these concerns, provide an accurate diagnosis, and recommend the right treatment. Dr. Shuman and the team at Bergen Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery are highly experienced in evaluating both pediatric and adult oral structures to determine the best treatment for tongue-ties and lip-ties.
Frenectomies for Kids: What Parents Should Know
Early identification and treatment of tongue-ties or lip-ties can play an important role in a child’s development. While a frenectomy is a minor procedure with a relatively short recovery period, it can help prevent both immediate feeding challenges and long-term complications related to speech, oral health, and growth.
Pediatric Frenectomy and Early Development
A pediatric frenectomy can support proper feeding, speech development, and oral function during a child’s critical growth stages. Although the procedure itself is quick and commonly performed, deciding whether to proceed requires thoughtful collaboration.
Your child’s care team may include pediatricians, dentists, orthodontists, speech therapists, and lactation consultants. As Bergen Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery’s pediatric oral care specialist, Dr. Irene Shuman, DDS plays a central role in evaluating and treating younger patients, including newborns, with frenulum concerns.
Learn more about Dr. Irene Shuman Joining Bergen Oral Surgery.
How Is a Frenectomy Dental Procedure Performed?
A frenectomy is minimally invasive and typically performed in-office by a qualified medical or dental provider. The exact techniques used may vary depending on the age of the patient, the type of frenectomy needed, and the approach that best supports healing and long-term results.
What to Expect During the Procedure
When performed by experienced providers, frenectomies are quick and minimally invasive.
For adults, a topical anesthetic is applied before an injection of local anesthesia to ensure comfort throughout the procedure.
Infants typically do not require anesthesia, though sucrose, a non-medical sugar solution, may be used to soothe them. It’s often necessary to also stabilize an infant’s head to keep them still throughout the procedure.
The frenectomy itself typically takes less than 15 minutes. Your surgeon may use a scalpel, surgical scissors, or laser to cut, release, or reshape the frenulum.
Lasers are increasingly used for frenectomies because they cauterize the tissue as they go, promoting faster healing and less bleeding. If a scalpel or medical scissors are used, stitches may be needed to close the incision.
Recovery and Aftercare
Full healing after a frenectomy typically takes one to two weeks. Minor swelling and discomfort is normal during the first few days and can usually be managed with cold packs, over-the-counter pain medications, and soft foods.
Older children and adults should avoid hard or crunchy foods, soda, alcohol, tobacco, and straws while healing.
Stretching exercises are an essential part of frenectomy aftercare. These gentle movements help to prevent the frenulum from reattaching and support improved mobility, increasing the range of motion in the lips or tongue.
For infants, parents may be encouraged to gently lift the tongue or lips with a finger, holding it briefly before releasing. Older children and adults may stretch the frenulum by sticking the tongue out, lifting the lips, or moving the lips and tongue side to side as directed.
Having a procedure other than a frenectomy? Learn more about our Post-Op Instructions.
Frenectomy Dental Care for All Ages at Bergen Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Bergen Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery proudly provides frenectomy dental care for patients of all ages, including newborns.
Early evaluation and timely treatment can significantly improve a child’s comfort and development, especially when an infant is struggling to eat. BOMS is committed to providing urgent evaluation and treatment for tongue-ties and lip-ties whenever possible, even providing same-day frenectomy procedures as clinically necessary.
This care builds on more than 70 years of experience serving Bergen County and the surrounding areas. Along with Dr. Shuman’s pediatric oral care expertise, our qualified team of surgeons, many with dual degrees in medicine and dentistry, capable of handling even the most complex cases.
With four locations in Bergen County, hospital privileges in New Jersey and New York, and a combined 2,000 Google reviews averaging nearly five stars, our practice is trusted by patients and dentists alike.
To have you or your child’s frenulum evaluated, make an appointment with our team. Call or text 201-477-2667 or request an appointment online.
Personalized, gentle, comprehensive patient care is our number one priority.
Frenectomy (FAQ)
Is a Frenectomy Painful?
When performed by a qualified medical provider, most patients experience minimal discomfort during a frenectomy, thanks to the use of anesthesia and gentle techniques.
At What Age Can a Pediatric Frenectomy be Performed?
Frenectomies can be safely performed at any age. When clinically necessary for the child’s health, that includes newborns.
Can a Newborn Have a Frenectomy the Same Day as a Consultation?
Depending on the medical urgency and the availability of our surgeons, newborns and children may receive same-day frenectomy treatment from our team.
Do All Tongue-Ties or Lip-Ties Require Surgery?
No, not all tongue-ties or lip-ties need surgery, which is why professional evaluation and consultations with a child’s full care team are essential.
