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. In the mouth, frenectomies are usually performed for periodontal or orthodontic reasons. In the oral cavity, a frenectomy performed to the frenum of the lip is called a labial frenectomy, under the tongue is called a lingual frenectomy. Frenectomies are performed on infants, children, and adults. A similar procedure is a frenulotomy, where the frenum is released but not completely excised (removed).

==Types== There are several frenula that are associated with types of frenectomy: Genital frenectomy can be performed to remove frenulums from genitalia such as the penile frenulum, clitoral frenulum, or the frenulum of labia minora. Lingual frenectomy (of the tongue) as a treatment for ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) Labial frenectomy (of the lip) is very common with patients undergoing denture treatment to get the proper fit of dentures or patients who have tissues attached to center of the upper lip and causing recession of gums or gap between the upper front teeth called central incisors. A frenectomy can also be performed to remove a section of tissue (the frenulum) that attached to the gingival tissue between two teeth.