What Is a Frenectomy?
A frenectomy is a quick, precise procedure that releases or removes a frenum, the small band of tissue that connects the lips, cheeks, or tongue to the gums or floor of the mouth. When a frenum is too tight, too short, or attached too close to the gum line, it can pull on the gums, cause recession, create a gap between the front teeth, restrict tongue or lip movement, or interfere with speech, eating, and oral hygiene.
We recommend a frenectomy when an overly restrictive frenum is causing functional problems, contributing to gum recession, creating orthodontic concerns, or interfering with proper oral development. The procedure is fast, minimally invasive, and produces immediate, lasting results.
Patients typically come to us for a frenectomy when their general dentist or orthodontist identifies the issue, when a child or adult is being evaluated for tongue tie or lip tie, when a midline gap will not close after orthodontics, or when they want a holistic, whole body approach that recognizes how a simple tissue release can dramatically improve breathing, function, and long-term wellness.
Benefits, Why MD Periodontics
- Stops gum recession at the source, releasing a pulling frenum that protects the gums from continued damage and supports long-term stability
- Closes orthodontic gaps. A frenectomy is often essential to closing and maintaining a midline gap between the front teeth
- Improves function, the procedure can resolve tongue tie or lip tie, dramatically improving speech, eating, breastfeeding, breathing, and oral hygiene
- Whole body wellness benefits, restricted tongue and lip ties are linked to mouth breathing, airway problems, sleep issues, and posture concerns, and releasing them supports far more than just the mouth
- Fast, minimally invasive procedure, completed in just a few minutes with little to no downtime and modern laser or microsurgical techniques
- Specialist-level precision, we use advanced techniques designed for predictable healing, minimal discomfort, and excellent long-term outcomes
- Beverly Hills specialist expertise, Dr. Moshrefi has decades of advanced surgical training, and Dr. Daneshmand brings USC-trained precision and a holistic philosophy to every plan we design together
Who Is a Candidate?
Most patients of any age with a restrictive frenum causing functional, gum, or developmental concerns are candidates for a frenectomy. The right approach depends on the location of the frenum, the symptoms it is causing, and your overall health, all of which we evaluate carefully.
You may be an ideal candidate if you:
- Have a tight upper lip frenum pulling on the gums between the front teeth
- Have a midline gap that will not close, or one that reopens after orthodontics
- Have gum recession caused by a pulling frenum
- Have a tongue tie restricting tongue movement, speech, or eating
- Have a lip tie causing breastfeeding difficulty for an infant or oral hygiene difficulty for an adult
- Experience speech issues linked to restricted tongue movement
- Have mouth breathing, sleep, or airway concerns possibly related to a restricted frenum
- Are preparing for orthodontics, implants, or a denture that requires a free range of motion
Patients with bleeding disorders, certain medications affecting healing, uncontrolled diabetes, or active oral infection may need additional medical coordination before the procedure.
The Process
1. Consultation and Evaluation
First, we begin with a thorough exam, full medical history review, and a careful assessment of the frenum, surrounding gum tissue, tongue or lip mobility, and any related functional concerns. In addition, for children, we coordinate closely with parents, pediatricians, lactation consultants, or speech therapists as needed.
2. Personalized Treatment Plan
Next, we map out your case together, including which frenum is being released, which technique is best for your anatomy, and how the procedure fits into broader treatment such as orthodontics or implant planning. Then we review timeline, comfort options, and expected results clearly.
3. The Procedure
After that, using precise surgical techniques, often with a soft tissue laser for minimal bleeding and faster healing, we release or remove the restrictive frenum. Notably, the procedure typically takes just a few minutes and is completed comfortably under local anesthesia.
4. Healing and Tissue Maturation
Then the tissue heals over 1 to 2 weeks. Furthermore, we provide simple stretching or movement exercises when appropriate to ensure the released area heals open rather than reattaching tightly.
5. Follow Up and Long Term Results
Finally, we see you for a brief follow up to confirm proper healing and review long term care. As a result, most patients notice the functional improvement immediately, with full tissue maturation over the following weeks.
Recovery and What to Expect
Most patients return to normal activities immediately or within 24 hours. Discomfort is typically minimal and responds well to over-the-counter pain relievers. Laser frenectomies in particular involve very little bleeding and rapid healing.
Aftercare basics:
- Stick to soft, cool foods for the first 24 to 48 hours
- Avoid spicy, acidic, or very hot foods for several days
- Rinse with warm salt water or prescribed antimicrobial rinse as we direct
- Perform any stretching or movement exercises exactly as instructed to prevent reattachment
- Resume gentle brushing the same day, avoiding the surgical site for a few days
- Skip strenuous exercise for 24 to 48 hours
- For children, follow the specific aftercare and stretching protocol we provide
- Keep your follow-up appointment so we can confirm proper healing
Call our office if you experience heavy bleeding that does not slow within an hour, severe pain not relieved by medication, fever over 101°F, signs of infection, or significant tightening or reattachment of the released area.
FAQ
No. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, and most patients feel little to nothing during treatment. Mild soreness afterward is common for a day or two and easily managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.
No. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, and most patients feel little to nothing during treatment. Mild soreness afterward is common for a day or two and easily managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.
Most frenectomies take just 5 to 15 minutes. Including anesthesia, evaluation, and postoperative instructions, your entire visit is typically 30 to 60 minutes.
Many dental and medical insurance plans cover a frenectomy when it is medically or functionally necessary, especially in cases involving gum recession, orthodontic complications, tongue-tie, or lip-tie. Our team verifies your benefits and explains your out-of-pocket costs clearly before treatment begins.
A frenectomy alone often does not fully close an existing gap, but it removes the underlying cause and allows orthodontic treatment to close the gap successfully and prevent it from reopening. The procedure is frequently done in coordination with orthodontics.
Yes. Frenectomies are performed safely and effectively at any age. Many adults seek the procedure for gum recession, orthodontic results, denture fit, or long-standing, unaddressed tongue or lip ties that affect function or comfort.
Laser frenectomy offers several advantages in many cases, including less bleeding, faster healing, often no sutures, and reduced discomfort. We use the technique best suited to your specific anatomy and case, and discuss the options openly during your consultation.
Sometimes. Traditional frenectomies often involve a few small sutures that dissolve on their own or are removed at follow-up. Laser frenectomies frequently require no sutures at all. We explain exactly what to expect for your case.
Yes. Restricted tongue mobility can contribute to mouth breathing, airway issues, sleep disordered breathing, and even posture concerns. Releasing a tongue-tie is often an important part of a broader airway and wellness evaluation, which we approach as a whole-body issue, not just an oral one.
Most patients feel essentially normal within 24 to 48 hours, with full tissue healing over 1 to 2 weeks. Laser frenectomies typically have the fastest recovery, and most patients are surprised by how quickly they return to normal life.
Yes, in select cases. Tongue-tie and lip-tie in infants and young children can affect breastfeeding, speech, eating, and oral development. When indicated, frenectomy is safe, fast, and highly effective. We coordinate closely with pediatricians, lactation consultants, and speech therapists when appropriate.
Periodontists are dental specialists trained in soft-tissue surgery of the mouth, including frenectomy procedures performed with precision to ensure predictable healing and excellent long-term outcomes. Complex cases, recession-related cases, and cases coordinated with orthodontics or implants consistently benefit from specialist hands.
Yes. Restrictive ties are increasingly recognized as connected to breathing, sleep, posture, digestion, and overall function. Releasing them is not just a dental procedure; it is often an important step in broader whole-body wellness, especially when paired with airway evaluation, myofunctional therapy, or other supportive care.
