Trimming the frenulum of the upper lip in children

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.

Contraindications for surgery

There are practically no contraindications for laser excision of the labial frenulum compared to other operations. The procedure can be performed even on children as young as 6 years old.

Parents should know that laser lip frenuloplasty is the least traumatic and uncomplicated operation that can solve many problems that a child may encounter in adulthood.

Despite this, there are a small number of contraindications, including: - The patient has cancer; — Severe mental and neurological diseases; — Serious defects in the structure of the oral cavity; — Blood diseases; — Infectious diseases in the acute stage; — Advanced caries; - Osteomelit.

As you can see, contraindications are quite serious diseases that are rare. But it should be remembered that a referral for this operation, like any other, can only be given by a qualified dentist after an in-person consultation with the patient.

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.

Types of surgery

The method of intervention is selected by the doctor individually. Determining the type of correction is based on the anatomical features of the upper lip. The cord can be of different severity and attached to the tissues in different ways. Depending on the parameters, the following is carried out:

• frenotomy (dissection for a narrow cord);
• frenectomy (excision of excess tissue);
• frenuloplasty (moving the anchorage point).

The operation can be performed using a classic surgical incision or using a laser. The second option is considered more modern, less traumatic. After laser correction there is no rehabilitation period, the intervention is more easily tolerated by patients.

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.

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.

Features of the operating process

The operation is performed using the following techniques:

• frenectomy (complete excision of the frenulum and the area of ​​its periosteal attachment; the operation involves dissection of the periosteal fibers in the area of ​​attachment of the frenulum with possible suturing of it to the periosteum at the base of the vestibule);
• frenuloplasty (carried out by surgical plastic surgery of the frenulum, which is carried out to eliminate the pathology of attachment of the frenulum of the tongue and lips to the periodontium);
• frenotomy (dissection of the frenulum in the transverse direction, the operation is performed when the process is too narrow and is not attached to the edge of the alveolar ridge).

The most modern method of surgery is laser frenuloplasty. This method has a number of advantages: it is bloodless, does not make noise or frighten the small patient, and is also painless, i.e. no anesthesia required. But the decision about which method to use can only be made by a qualified specialist.

Lengthening of the short frenulum is carried out under local anesthesia. The operation usually takes no more than 20 minutes. Only a speech therapist or orthodontist, but not a dental surgeon, can judge the relevance of surgical intervention. The latter deals with forecasting and planning of operational actions. Rehabilitation lasts about a month, the pain goes away quickly. Plastic surgery of the lower and upper lips is successfully performed within the walls of the NovaDent clinic. Prices for dental services are listed on the website. To make an appointment, call or leave a request online and we will contact you.

Expert of the article you are reading: Tatyana Vasilievna Konstantinova Pediatric dentist, therapist

33 years
Clinical experience

Center for Implantation and Orthopedics of Dr. Ryzhov A.V.

st. Dubninskaya, 27, building 1

+7

Free consultation with this specialist