Have you heard about tongue-tie and lip-tie before?
Well, these are the oral problems that occur due to issues with frenum during growth.
The frenum, or frenulum, is the membrane that attaches lips and tongue with gum and mouth floor, respectively.
Any problem with the frenum growth hinders normal lip and tongue movements and causes feeding, speech, and oral health problems in children. To resolve these problems, physicians may suggest frenectomy or frenuloplasty, depending on the issue.
If your child is exhibiting signs of tongue or lip-tie, book an appointment with Tongue Tie Phoenix to consult about the frenectomy procedure.
Frenotomy and frenectomy are two standard procedures to treat these problems. It can be confusing for anyone to understand these and the differences between frenotomy and frenectomy.
Let’s dive into these common procedures and understand their unique differences.
Oral Frenum Problems and Treatment Options
The oral frenulum is a membrane in your mouth. It’s like a thin piece of connective tissue at two locations in your mouth.
Oral frenum is of two types depending on where it is present.
- The labial frenum connects the gums with the upper lip. This is present at several locations, but the one connecting your front teeth with your lip is visible.
- The second one is the lingual frenum connecting the tongue with your mouth floor.
If the labial frenum is too thick or placed tightly, it hinders normal lip movement, causing lip-tie. Similarly, a thick, short, and poorly placed lingual frenum restricts the tongue’s free movement, resulting in tongue tie.
These problems with frenum growth interfere with regular feeding activity and can result in speech disorders as the child grows. Mothers can often figure out the problem in infants as they struggle with the nursing position and create sounds while feeding.
Frenum problems can also negatively affect the child’s oral health. In both cases, depending on the condition, doctors recommend the surgical solutions known as frenectomy and frenotomy.
Suggested Read: What is the Difference Between a Tongue Tie and Lip Tie
9 Crucial Distinctions Between Frenectomy and Frenotomy
Both frenectomy and frenotomy are surgical options for the treatment of tongue tie and lip tie. Many people find it confusing to differentiate between the two procedures, but they are not the same.
What Is It?
Frenectomy, also known as frenulectomy, is the procedure that completely removes the frenum membrane, causing restricted movement of the tongue and lips.
In contrast, frenotomy or frenulotomy modifies the frenum membrane to release the tongue tie.
Types
Frenectomy can be of two types:
Frenotomy doesn’t treat lip tie, so we only have one type: lingual frenotomy.
Use
Frenectomy is safe and is an effective treatment option for tongue or lip ties. However, frenotomy is a specific procedure for the tongue tie.
Suggested Read: How Lip Tie Makes Breastfeeding Challenging and Solutions
Treatment Purpose
Frenectomy is a complex procedure that aims to resume regular feeding and speech activities among patients. A frenectomy is generally an option when the frenum stiffness hinders normal functioning in both kids and adults.
However, frenotomy is a procedure to treat tongue tie which is quite prevalent and challenging. The frenotomy procedure improves tongue movement, mainly when tongue tie affects breastfeeding.
Procedure Complexity
Frenectomy is the complete removal of the frenum membrane, and that’s why it is a complex procedure. The complete removal of the membrane may require cutting through the skin and applying stitches.
In comparison, the frenotomy is a simple procedure. There is no need for stitches, and the procedure requires less time to complete.
Anesthesia
The frenectomy procedure usually requires local or general anesthesia during the extensive procedure. But frenotomy can be easily performed without any anesthesia as it’s quick.
Post Procedure Care
As frenectomy is a complicated procedure, that’s why it requires post-procedure care. In the case of frenotomy, there is no such need for post-procedure care as it is quite simple.
Recovery Time
Recovery time after the surgery is another difference between frenectomy and frenotomy. Frenectomy patients usually require more time to heal because of the procedure’s complexity.
The estimated healing time after frenectomy is usually a few weeks. During recovery, a patient may need medicines for pain management and follow some additional practices for oral care.
However, in the case of frenotomy, recovery is usually fast. It usually takes a week to recover and resume normal activities after the surgery.
Suggested Read: Frenectomy Healing: Post Surgery Care & Recovery Time
Cost
The cost of a frenectomy is usually between $500-$1500, depending on the severity and type of procedure. However, the price for newborn frenotomy is relatively less due to its non-invasive nature.
That’s all about frenectomy vs frenotomy. Now, we have advanced versions of these procedures. Laser frenectomy and laser frenotomy are safer, resulting in fewer side effects.
Suggested Read: Frenectomy Pain: Exploring Pain-Free Laser Procedures
Choosing Between Frenectomy and Frenotomy: Finding Your Fit
After knowing the main difference between these procedures, you may struggle to find the right one for you.
Well, many factors determine which procedure is the one for you. These include:
Your oral physician can help you choose the right treatment option after a detailed examination. So, ensure you know when your child starts exhibiting tongue or lip tie symptoms.
