Frenectomy
A frenectomy is the removal of a frenulum, a small fold of tissue that prevents an organ in the body from moving too far. It can refer to frenula in several places on the human body. It is related to frenuloplasty, a surgical alteration in a frenulum. Done mostly for orthodontic purposes, a frenectomy is either performed inside the middle of the upper lip, which is called labial frenectomy, or under the tongue, called lingual frenectomy. Frenectomy is a very common dental procedure that is performed on infants, children, and adults. A similar procedure frenulotomy is where a tight  frenulum may be relieved by making an incision in the tight tissue. Types. There are several frenula that are associated with types of frenectomy: Pediatric and Infant Frenectomies. In the past, the frenectomy procedure was perhaps the most popular of soft tissue operations in younger patients. Many labial and lingual frenum (tongue- and lip-ties) were snipped by a midwife, family doctor or dental surgeon. The overall awareness and treatment of tongue- and lip-ties especially in breastfeeding infants has increased over recent years. Frenectomies are routinely performed on infants to improve breastfeeding outcomes. In 2020, medical professionals raised the  concern that a recent rise in unnecessary frenectomies on infants may be encouraged in part by information shared in online parenting groups. While public healthcare options (e.g. NHS) may not cover frenulectomies, in part due to these concerns, private clinic surgeries remain viable options for concerned parents. Traditionally tongue-ties are diagnosed by appearance alone; newer research advocates for a functional assessment to determine any deleterious effect on breastfeeding. Before any surgical intervention for difficulties related to breastfeeding, preoperative consultation with a certified lactation consultant is recommended. Laser frenectomy with CO surgical lasers. Frenectomies can be safely and efficiently released  with the soft tissue 10,600 nm CO laser with predictable and repeatable tissue response, fast ablation and instant hemostasis. The extremely precise cutting, minimal collateral damage, clear and bloodless operating field, make the CO laser a good choice for frenectomy procedures. CO laser oral surgery also features less wound contraction and reduced scarring or fibrosis in comparison with scalpel incisions.