Do you want to get rid of restricted oral movements but are afraid of the pain and complications caused by frenectomies? This confuses you, and you wonder if there is any better option than typical frenectomies.
Yes, this is the safest way of treating or modifying your interfering tissues. It is a procedure that offers minimal pain and reduces associated complications.
To get complete knowledge about laser frenectomy before undergoing this procedure, read this guide!
Read: Frenectomy Healing: Post-Surgery Care & Recovery Time
Overview
It refers to the surgical procedure in which the doctor uses a laser to cut or modify the folded or binding tissue on the body. The term frenectomy also means an oral procedure in which a laser modifies the frenum.
Frenum are the soft tissues attached to lips and gums. Patients having disturbing frenum mass undergo this procedure.
The two commonly performed laser frenectomies include:
1- Lingual Frenectomy
The tissues connecting the tongue with the roof of the mouth are the lingual frenum. The length of these tissues is different among different people.
In some cases, the size of the lingual frenum is short by birth. It causes hindrance in tongue movement. This condition refers to tongue tie or ankyloglossia.
A lingual frenectomy can treat this condition by allowing greater tongue movement. It commonly occurs among infants, affecting about 5% of the infants. It interferes with breastfeeding and speech development.
2- Maxillary Frenectomy
It increases upper lip mobility by modifying the labial frenum ( the tissue connecting the top lip to the gum region).
This procedure prevents speech development difficulties, gum diseases, and other dental-related issues.
Laser Frenectomy In Babies
This procedure is for babies who suffer from lip tie or tongue tie. These conditions interfere with the breastfeeding of the infants, which ultimately leads to weight loss or inability to gain proper weight.
Also, it affects speech development. Baby boys are at more risk of these complications than girls. However, this is the safe option to treat the lip tie or tongue tie with menial risks.
Laser Frenectomy For Adults
As the person grows, various structural changes occur in the oral cavity. Gum recession can occur if your frenum starts pulling the gums away from the lower teeth area.
Thus, it restricts normal tongue and lip movement. To deal with this condition, you will need to undergo this procedure. Adults always require more time for recovery as compared to infants after frenectomy.
Procedure
This procedure usually doesn’t require local anesthesia and uses different types of soft tissue lasers, such as CO2 and Diode.
However, the CO2 laser is usually a preferable option during frenectomies. It can be performed in your healthcare provider’s office setting.
The procedure usually takes a maximum of 15 minutes to complete, and patients can go home after that.
Is Laser Frenectomy Painful?
You may experience minimal pain during the procedure. In terms of pain, it is the best alternative to traditional frenectomies, which use scissors and scalpels.
The chances of bleeding and inflammation are fewer after this treatment. Furthermore, it reduces the need for analgesic medications after the procedure.
Recovery
The dentist will instruct you to keep the oral cavity clean after this treatment. Adults should avoid having their regular diet in the first few days.
It is because of the increased risk of infection caused by the entrapping of food particles in the oral cavity.
You can be prescribed antibiotics to avoid oral infections. It takes just a day or two for the area to start healing. Complications associated with this treatment are less than that of typical frenectomies.
Patients recover more quickly with a laser frenectomy. Patients can continue their normal diet and other activities after taking precautions for a few days. Infants undergoing this treatment can start feeding immediately after the procedure.
What Is The Best Time To Undergo Frenectomy?
It is always the best option to consult your doctor to find out the best time for a laser frenectomy.
After analyzing your health conditions, he can give you a time for the procedure. It is a safe procedure and can be performed at any time.
Besides, babies can also undergo this treatment safely after a few weeks of delivery.
Benefits:
It offers several benefits over typical frenectomy procedures, as mentioned below.
Takeaway
Laser frenectomy cuts or modifies the frenulum by using soft tissue lasers. Hence, it is a safer and preferred procedure than typical frenectomies.
Both adults and infants can undergo this procedure safely. The risk and complications associated with laser frenectomy are minimal. Patients usually take less than a week to recover from it.
At Tongue Tie Pheonix, we offer various dental services to enhance the quality of your life by improving your oral health. Visit our website right now to know more!
Read: Exploring Causes of Lip and Tongue Tie in Babies
FAQs
Is laser frenectomy Safe?
Yes, it is a safe procedure. Both adults and infants can undergo this procedure without risk of severe complications. In fact, the risk of bleeding, inflammation, and pain is also minimally associated with this procedure.
How long does a laser frenectomy take to heal?
It takes much less time to heal as compared to typical frenectomies. Less than a week is enough period for the patients to recover properly. The infants are usually allowed to feed immediately after it.
When can I drink and eat after the laser frenectomy?
Your doctor may prescribe you to limit your food intake for at least three to four days after this procedure. It reduces the risk of infections, which the entrapping of the food particles can cause. You can start taking your regular meals as soon as you heal correctly.
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