A frenum is a piece of tissue that connects or holds down a part of the body such as the tongue, lip, or cheeks. The tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth is called the lingual frenum, while the tissue connecting the lip to the gum in front of the teeth is called the labial frenum.
Occasionally a frenum might be exceptionally short, thick, tight, or may extend too far down along the tongue or the gum. When a frenum is positioned in such a way that it interferes with the normal alignment of teeth or to constrict the movement of the tongue or lips, it can be treated with a very simple surgery called a laser frenectomy.
A frenectomy is a simple procedure, generally taking less than fifteen minutes. Using a laser, the doctor will remove the frenum. When conducted with a laser, the surgery tends to cause very little bleeding, does not require sutures, and often results in very little post-procedure discomfort.
