Excision of the frenulum (Frenulectomy)

Upper lip frenuloplasty is a surgical operation aimed at trimming the tissue connecting the lip and upper jaw. The frenulum is a fold in the mouth that connects the upper lip to the jaw bones. If it is not secured correctly, speech functions, bite, and smile aesthetics are impaired. But such a diagnosis is not a death sentence. With the right approach, bloodless and painless laser plastic surgery, the problem can be effectively solved in young (in particular, in the first year of life) and adulthood.

Features of the frenulum of the upper lip

It is normal when the frenulum is located at a distance of about 50-80 mm from the front incisor teeth. If it “extends” beyond the front teeth, and the attachment points are difficult to see, then it is considered pathological (shortened). Then it begins in the area between the front incisors and ends approximately in the middle of the lip.

Determining the size and fastening of the bridle is easy. It is enough to raise your upper lip. In adults, improper fastening is visible to the naked eye - during speech, when smiling (the effect is called the “horse smile”).

To effectively solve the problem, laser plastic surgery of the upper lip frenulum in adults and children is recommended, which should be performed by an experienced and qualified dentist in the field of plastic surgery and dentistry.

Symptoms of the disease

There are signs of the disease that will help parents suspect it and then consult a doctor in a timely manner.

These include the following symptoms:

• the baby sucks weakly at the breast and slowly gains weight;
• he gets tired quickly when feeding;
• the child pronounces vowel sounds poorly, and there is no improvement during sessions with a speech therapist;
• inability to completely close your lips;
• mouth half open;
• large distance between the incisors (diastema);
• frequent tears;
• impaired mobility of the upper lip.

In a child, this defect can provoke the development of malocclusion, the appearance of periodontal disease, and early tooth loss.

How will laser plastic surgery of the upper lip frenulum help?

The described pathology leads to the following problems:

• Speech disorders. Difficulty pronouncing vowels “u”, “o” and labial sounds, unclear, slow speech.
• Dental problems. Against the background of close attachment of the frenulum, the gums are significantly retracted, and a gap forms in the tissue between the front teeth. The distance between the teeth also increases, they become more sensitive to hot, cold foods, sweet, salty, and sour. Retraction of the gums and exposure of the roots provokes the penetration of infections, and with them the development of dental diseases in the upper and lower jaws.
• Aesthetic problems. A short frenulum is the cause of an unattractive “horse-shaped” or crooked smile.
• Problems with bite and chewing function. As a result, diseases of the digestive system.
• Difficulty with sucking function in infants. In newborns, the upper lip and tongue take part in the sucking process. Against the background of this pathology, the digestion process is disrupted, weight loss, increased irritability during natural (breast sucking) or artificial (bottle sucking) feeding, and pacifier refusal are observed.

Laser surgery of the upper lip frenulum is also recommended as part of the preparation for the installation of removable dentures. A short frenulum may prevent reliable fixation of dentures. It is recommended to perform the procedure before installing braces.

Why do you need plastic surgery?

Lip frenuloplasty in children is performed to prevent the development of severe complications.

• violation of diction;
• malnutrition and underweight in infants;
• diastema;
• malocclusion;
• bleeding gums;
• permanent injury;
• exposure of the necks of the teeth;
• formation of periodontal pockets;
• increased sensitivity of enamel;
• formation of tartar.

In old age, these patients face difficulties with dental prosthetics.

At what age is it better to have plastic surgery?

The optimal time for surgery is between five and six years of age. Children can be operated on up to the age of nine, when the permanent incisors have not yet grown. In infants, this operation is performed if they are unable to breastfeed normally. Occasionally it is performed in adults when the frenulum interferes with prosthetics.

How is laser plastic surgery of the upper lip frenulum performed?

The operation is performed using a special laser device after thorough sanitation of the oral cavity.

Main stages:

• The doctor applies an anesthetic gel to the surface to be treated;
• Directs a light guide towards the frenulum, from which a light beam emerges;
• After the frenulum is “dissolved,” the wound is sterilized with laser light and the edges are “sealed.”

Main advantages of the operation:

• Atraumatic. There are no stitches, scars, no bleeding either during or after the operation.
• Efficiency. The procedure takes 2-3 minutes.
• Fast recovery. The patient can return to normal life immediately after the procedure is completed.
• No risk of infection. The edges of the wound are sealed with a laser, the light rays have an antibacterial effect, and infection of the wound is excluded!
• Efficiency. The manipulation has a 100% effect for almost any indicator.
• Comfort for children. During the procedure, children do not experience any unpleasant sounds or strong vibrations. Children practically do not feel the intervention and tolerate the procedure easily, in a playful way.

Indications and contraindications for surgery

The doctor may prescribe surgery in the following cases.

• Sucking function is impaired in infants. If this condition interferes with full breastfeeding, a specialist may prescribe surgery as early as 2.5–6 months.
• Chewing function is impaired. A short frenulum can make it difficult for a child to chew food, causing him to swallow too large pieces.
• A diastema has formed. This is a gap between the front incisors, which can appear as a result of a frenulum that is too large and does not allow the teeth to meet.
• An incorrect bite is formed. If correction is made at the stage of growth of baby teeth, serious problems with bite can be avoided in the future.
• A depression is formed between the teeth and gums. The gum pocket leads to the deposition of tartar and the need for its subsequent removal.
• Speech is impaired. Often, due to too much tension on the lip, a person cannot pronounce certain sounds.
• Frequent inflammatory gum diseases. Due to the heavy load on the upper and lower gums, the roots of the teeth remain unprotected, which is why infection penetrates there. Plastic surgery of the lower lip frenulum in adults can often solve this problem.

Contraindications include diseases of the oral mucosa that are in the relapse stage, caries, osteomyelitis, mental illness, alcohol abuse, a tendency to form keloid scars, various cerebral lesions and blood diseases, etc. About whether it is possible to perform surgery in a particular case , you should consult your doctor. Before the procedure, mandatory sanitation of the oral cavity is carried out to avoid the spread of infection.

Features of recovery after laser plastic surgery of the upper lip frenulum

• Temporarily avoid solid, heavy, hot foods; saturate your diet with medium-temperature, seasoned dishes; drinking plenty of fluids.
• Perform oral hygiene, brush your teeth with soft brushes, avoiding contact with the frenulum.
• Get examined by a dentist after surgery.

After the manipulation, the language becomes mobile, diction becomes clearer. Dentists recommend immediately after laser correction to move on to eliminating the gap between the teeth (if there was one).

In general, the rehabilitation period lasts about 3-4 days, and during this time the discomfort disappears and the surgical site heals completely.

Postoperative period

As a rule, the healing period after such operations, especially those performed with a laser, is quite calm and easy. The doctor asks patients to follow a few simple rules:

• give up too hard, irritating and hot foods for two days;
• carry out thorough oral hygiene;
• come back for a re-examination after a while.

A network of multidisciplinary medical providers provides services for correction of frenulum of the upper and lower lip. We use modern techniques, and our specialists undergo regular training. You can get information about the price of labial frenuloplasty (upper and lower) by calling the phone number listed on the page.

Upper lip frenuloplasty – price

The average cost of a surgical operation in Moscow clinics is from 4,500 rubles. You can find out exactly how much the service will cost during a consultation with a dentist.

The price of laser trimming of the upper lip frenulum depends on the following factors:

• The age and health status of the patient;
• Nature of the problem;
• The selected doctor;
• Other factors.

In any case, the money invested in professional dental care will pay off in health, beauty and self-confidence.

If you have any suspicions or actual indications for laser surgery, you should always contact trusted doctors. Our clinic (link) employs professionals who specialize in performing such operations. Sign up for a consultation right now to take the first and main step towards solving the problem!

Scalpel or laser

Plastic surgery of the frenulum of the upper and lower lips is carried out both traditionally, using a scalpel, and with a laser. This method has many advantages. Among them it is worth highlighting:

• painlessness,
• bloodlessness,
• antiseptic.

Laser surgery of the frenulum of the upper and lower lips can be performed on both children and adults. The operation does not require special preparation and does not last long. Laser plastic surgery of the upper lip frenulum takes no more than half an hour with preparation.

Laser frenuloplasty for a child in Moscow

The hyoid frenulum is a fold of connective tissue responsible for the mobility of the tongue. Its characteristic problem is that the size is too small, which can be solved with a simple operation.

At the Aza&Buka medical center, tongue frenuloplasty in children is performed using a laser. The completely bloodless procedure takes no more than 10 minutes, does not require stitches and has a minimal recovery period.

If the sublingual cord is close to the tip of the tongue or there are other abnormalities, the doctor may choose a different therapy.

Preparation for plastic surgery in the vestibule of the mouth

To prepare for surgery you must:

1. cure all teeth from caries;
2. take a course of prevention and improve hygiene;
3. buy a special soft toothbrush, which will be needed only in the postoperative period;
4. have your teeth professionally cleaned immediately before surgery;
5. be sure to visit a myotherapist (preferably a week before the intervention) and learn how to do exercises for the tongue (this is exactly what a week is for), which will need to be done after the operation so that the tongue becomes mobile;
6. treat the surgical area with ozone immediately before surgery;
7. take a general blood test with hemosyndrome (clotting time) - the day before surgery.

It is very important that the child eats before the operation, since food can only be consumed after 2 hours.

Lip frenuloplasty in children

A shortened frenulum of the tongue, lower or upper lip is a common developmental anomaly of the oral cavity in children. They can cause problems with speech and eating, and aesthetic problems. Timely seeking qualified help will help prevent negative consequences.

Children's dental clinic "MARTINKA" offers plastic services for the frenulum of the tongue, upper or lower lip. Doctors with extensive experience and high qualifications work with each small patient in a fully equipped clinic with modern equipment. This allows frenuloplasty to be performed efficiently and painlessly.

Plastic frenulum of the tongue

Immediately after birth

In a newborn, the frenulum of the tongue does not yet contain nerve endings, so plastic surgery can be performed in the maternity hospital without the use of painkillers. After the procedure, the baby is placed on the breast to stop bleeding.

Up to 12 months of age

The key criterion for assessing the need for correction of the tongue frenulum is the rate of weight gain by the infant. If the baby weighs much less than normal for his age, and is often capricious because he is hungry, these are the first signs of a violation of the frenulum attachment. Up to 9 months, the pathology is eliminated under local anesthesia. The frenulum of the tongue is cut with scissors to the desired level. After the procedure, the baby is given a bottle or placed on the breast.

After 12 months

The problem may be detected as speech function develops. Dissection at this age is performed under infiltration anesthesia. Then the bridle is transferred to the place required for fixation and sutured.

Depending on the time of detection of the anomaly and the complexity of plastic surgery of the frenulum of the tongue in children, the price of the service will differ. With age, the frenulum becomes denser, and surgery to restore tongue function is much more difficult to perform.

Lip frenuloplasty

At the age of 6–8 years, after the permanent incisors have erupted, a child may have an abnormality of the frenulum of the upper or lower lip. Before this period, dysfunction and the need for surgical intervention can only be assumed. In practice, a shortened frenulum of the upper lip is more common than the lower lip.

Indications for surgery:

• preparation for orthopedic or orthodontic treatment;
• speech disorder;
• the presence of a diastema (gap between the front upper or lower teeth);
• periodontitis, periodontal disease, periostitis and other periodontal diseases;
• malocclusion due to a shortened upper or lower frenulum;
• difficulty eating.

Stages of plastic surgery of the upper lip frenulum in children:

• the patient must receive a referral for tests, based on the results of which the doctor sets a date for the operation;
• local anesthesia is performed;
• the frenulum is carefully cut;
• if necessary, excision is carried out, that is, a small fragment of excess tissue is cut out;
• the base of the frenulum is attached to the lip.

Correction of the lower lip is carried out in exactly the same way as the upper lip. The operation goes almost unnoticed for the little patient. After anesthesia, the child may experience slight discomfort under the tongue, upper or lower lip, but this is all. Our specialists provide an individual and attentive approach, doing everything so that the baby does not experience fear or pain.

Recommendations after surgery

The postoperative period should be under medical supervision until the sutures under the lip or tongue are completely healed. The next stage is myogymnastics. This procedure is especially exciting for young patients, since each of them loves to make faces and stick out their tongues. The main goal of myogymnastics is to prevent the formation of scars under the tongue or lip due to the intensive work of the masticatory and facial muscles.

The rehabilitation period involves careful hygiene of the oral cavity, including the tongue, and a temporary refusal of rough and hot foods. The surgeon must examine the child’s lip and tongue once every two days.

When to contact a specialist

Violation of the attachment of the frenulum of the tongue or lip is not such a rare problem. The sooner an anomaly is detected, the easier it is for the doctor to eliminate it and the more unnoticeable the operation will be for a small patient.

The staff of the Children's Dental Clinic "MARTINKA" are ready to answer all questions and provide qualified advice by phone listed on the website.

When should the procedure be performed?

Frenuloplasty is performed on children at any age and on adults if there are medical indications for it. In the first days and months of life, the operation is prescribed so that the child can eat properly, while growing up - for external aesthetics and the formation of correct pronunciation.

To normalize the process of breastfeeding, an incision is made in the short frenulum of the newborn's tongue. The manipulation takes a few seconds and is practically painless for the baby.

If in infancy the situation was not critical, but as the child grows, the frenulum of the tongue does not lengthen, frenuloplasty is recommended in preschool or early school age. A speech therapist often refers you to surgery. The procedure is carried out using anesthesia and consists of cutting the frenulum of the tongue and moving its attachment point. After undergoing the plastic correction procedure, exercises are necessary, which are carried out by a speech therapist in order to form the correct pronunciation of sounds and letters.

Plastic surgery of the frenulum of the upper lip and tongue is done extremely rarely for infants, only in cases where the baby is not able to fully breastfeed. It is better to perform the operation on children who have already reached the age of 5, after the molars begin to grow. At the age of 7-9 years, as a rule, 4 upper incisors have already changed, and the dentition is clearly visible.

It is best for children to correct pathology of the lower lip frenulum at the age of 6-7 years. For adults, surgery is prescribed when periodontal disease is detected. The procedure takes 10-15 minutes, postoperative complications occur extremely rarely, the sutures heal quickly and, if the recommendations are followed, do not cause significant discomfort.

Types of frenuloplasty operations

This problem can be solved using various methods. The doctor makes a choice depending on the location and size of the frenulum.

Frenotomy means an incision in the frenulum located under the upper lip. It is carried out when the size is too narrow or there is a thin film without fixation points at the end of the alveolar process. The doctor transversely dissects this area, followed by longitudinal suturing.

Frenectomy means excision of the frenulum. Shown in its wide size. The incision is made along the ridge in a tense manner, the tissues between the roots of the frontal incisors are excised. The interdental papilla is also excised.

Frenuloplasty – transfer of the frenulum attachment site. It is driven in two ways: Y-shaped and Z-shaped.