Frenectomy & Vestibuloplasty / Tongue-Tie

Frenectomy & Vestibuloplasty / Tongue-Tie

Frenectomy & Vestibuloplasty / Tongue-Tie

An oral frenum is a tissue that connects two structures inside your mouth. Aberrant frenal attachment may lead to gum recession. In addition, abnormally high frenal attachment may prevent closure of midline space between the two upper central incisors, when the patient is wearing braces. When the aberrant frenum is situated at the base of the tongue, known as “tongue-tie”, the individual may have problems in feeding, swallowing, and speech. Frenectomy, or frenuloplasty, is a procedure whereby the frenum is removed or reduced.

An oral vestibule is the space between inside of the cheek and side of the teeth touching the cheek. It is not uncommon for individuals who have lost many teeth over many years to have “shallow” vestibule that may interfere with denture seating, toothbrushing, and flossing. Moreover, individuals who have dental implants, with a history of tooth loss years ago, may also have shallow vestibule around their implants.  Vestibuloplasty is a treatment to deepen the vestibule to create more room between the inside of the cheek and the teeth/implants, facilitating better denture seating, and providing more room for brushing and flossing teeth and dental implants.