Frenulum of the tongue or lip in children and adults

Frenulum of the tongue or lip in children and adults

A frenulum of the tongue or lip that is too short or incorrectly attached can cause serious difficulties: speech impairment, feeding problems in infants, discomfort with chewing and hygiene, and in adults, effects on the bite and the aesthetics of the smile. These limitations can seriously affect quality of life, especially if not addressed in time.

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Tongue frenulum (hyoid frenulum)

Tongue frenulum (hyoid frenulum)

If it is too short, it limits the mobility of the tongue, which interferes with normal pronunciation, eating and speech formation in children.

Frenulum of the upper lip

Frenulum of the upper lip

Abnormal attachment can cause a gap between the front teeth (diastema), disturb the bite, limit lip movement, interfere with normal jaw development and smile aesthetics. Timely trimming of the frenulum of the upper lip in children can avoid many dental and speech problems in the future.

Lower lip frenulum

Lower lip frenulum

Occurs less frequently, but can also cause discomfort, tissue tension and affect the stability of the lower incisors. In each case, the doctor evaluates the anatomy of the frenulum, the degree of restriction of the movement of the tongue, lips and decides on the need for correction.

Contraindications

Plasty of the frenulum of the lip or tongue is not performed in such cases:

  • Acute or chronic diseases in the active phase (acute respiratory viral infection, exacerbation of chronic diseases);
  • infectious processes in the oral cavity (stomatitis, gingivitis, herpes, etc.);
  • blood diseases (coagulation disorders, leukemia, etc.). );
  • allergy to local anesthetics;
  • elevated body temperature;
  • inability to adequately contact the child (at an early age in the absence of indications for emergency intervention);
  • oncological diseases of the oral cavity;
  • epilepsy or neurological disorders in the decompensation stage.

In the presence of temporary contraindications, the operation is postponed until full recovery and stabilization of the condition.

Frenulum of the tongue or lip in children and adults

Price: Frenulum of the tongue or lip in children and adults

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    Frequently asked questions about frenuloplasty

    • There are usually two main frenulas in the oral cavity - the tongue (hyoid) and the upper lip. There is also a frenulum of the lower lip, but it is less common.
    • Indications for plastic frenulum of the lip and tongue: functional or anatomical disorders affecting speech, eating or bite. Age depends on the localization and severity of the problem.
    • Complete healing usually takes 7-10 days with proper care without complications.
    • If there is no restriction of tongue or lip movement, no discomfort, no effect on speech and bite, then there is no frenulum defect.
    • Diagnosis is carried out by a dentist and includes examination, functional tests for tongue and lip mobility, sometimes with the help of a speech therapist or orthodontist.
    • Yes, frenulum tears are quite common in children, especially in active toddlers and young kids who are prone to falls and bumps to the mouth. The upper lip frenulum (the small tissue connecting the lip to the gum) is most frequently affected and usually heals well on its own within a few days. While these injuries can bleed a lot initially, they are rarely serious. However, if bleeding doesn't stop, the tear is very large, or you notice signs of infection, please bring your child in for an evaluation.
    • The frenulum is not technically part of the lip itself — it's a small fold of tissue that connects the lip to the gum. You can feel it if you run your tongue between your upper lip and gum in the midline. While it's closely associated with the lip and helps limit its movement, it's actually a separate soft tissue structure. If a frenulum is too tight or thick, it can sometimes cause issues like a gap between the front teeth, and in such cases, a simple procedure called a frenectomy can help.
    • Common signs of a lip or tongue tie in children include difficulty breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, poor weight gain, a heart-shaped tongue tip when extended, trouble lifting the tongue to the upper teeth, or a tight band visible under the tongue or upper lip. Older children may experience speech difficulties, a gap between the front teeth, or problems eating certain foods. If you notice any of these signs, we recommend scheduling a consultation so we can assess your child and discuss the best course of action together.
    • Yes, a lip frenulum is completely normal — everyone has one. It's the small fold of tissue that connects your upper or lower lip to the gum. However, if the frenulum is too thick, too tight, or attached too close to the teeth, it can sometimes cause issues such as a gap between the front teeth, gum recession, or difficulty with lip movement. If you're concerned about your or your child's lip frenulum, we'd be happy to evaluate it and recommend the best course of action.

    Surgeons who perform frenuloplasty of the tongue

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    Anastasiia Danyliuk

    Anastasiia Danyliuk

    General dentist, endodontist

    Focuses not only on treatment effectiveness but also on patient comfort. Her main goal is to provide long-term results without the need for repeate...

    Tereshchenko Yana

    Yana Tereshchenko

    General dentist, endodontist

    Cares about both the health and the aesthetic and functional aspects of her patients’ teeth, helping preserve a natural, beautiful smile for years.

    Rudzynska Yuliia

    Yuliia Rudzynska

    Pediatric dentist

    Helps children not only maintain healthy teeth but also develop a positive attitude toward dentistry, ensuring fear-free visits.

    Borys Minakov

    Borys Minakov

    Prosthodontist

    His approach focuses on individually tailored treatment plans that not only solve current issues but also prevent future ones. This helps patients ...

    Reviews of frenuloplasty (frenectomy) of the tongue or lip for in Krakow

    Anna

    We had the frenulum trimmed for our baby (1.5 months old), as he had problems with grasping the breast. The procedure was done in 5 minutes, the baby ate calmly after a few hours. I am very grateful to the doctors of Dynasty Stomatology!

    02/04/2025

    Oksana

    My daughter (6 years old) had problems with pronunciation of “r” and “l” sounds. The speech therapist referred her for hyoid frenulum plasty. We had the procedure done at Dynasty Stomatology – everything went perfectly. After the operation my speech improved literally within a month.

    17/03/2025

    Igor

    I came to the clinic with a complaint of a gap between my front teeth and tightness of the upper lip. The doctor recommended frenuloplasty. Everything went quickly and without pain and bleeding, a couple of months later began orthodontic treatment.

    12/02/2025

    Tatiana

    My son, 9 years old, had a shortened frenulum, and because of the tension an incorrect bite began to form. The doctor said that he needed plastic surgery of the frenulum of the lower lip. It was done at Dynasty Stomatology. After the procedure, my jaw began to align. The doctors have a very professional approach!

    25/04/2025

    Marina

    I am 28 years old, all my childhood I had a speech defect, but I only got to the surgery now. Plasty of the frenulum of the tongue was comfortable under local anesthesia, recovery took less than a week. Now I am practicing with a speech therapist – improvements are already noticeable.

    05/05/2025

    Oleg

    My 4 year old daughter’s swallowing was impaired, her tongue was resting on her lower teeth. Dynasty Stomatology performed frenulotomy, the doctor also recommended simple exercises. Improvement became noticeable after 10 days.

    29/03/2025

    Christina

    Before orthodontic treatment, we needed to remove tension on my child’s upper lip. The plasty went perfectly, the stitches healed quickly, there were no complications. Thank you Dynasty Stomatology for your professionalism and care!

    01/04/2025

    Expert articles on the topic

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    If you or your child is facing such a problem, contact Dynasty Stomatology in Poland. Our specialists will diagnose and, if necessary, perform lip or tongue frenulum plasty quickly, safely and anatomically. Our dentistry provides services for children and adult patients.

    What is frenulum plasty?

    Frenulumplasty is a minor surgical procedure called frenulotomy (dissection) or frenuloplasty (lengthening and shaping). It is performed for anatomical abnormalities that make it difficult to perform natural functions such as talking, sucking, etc. The purpose of frenulumplasty may be to remove the frenulum.

    The purpose of frenulum plasty may be as follows:

    • to restore normal mobility of the tongue or lip;
    • to improve diction and speech;
    • to facilitate eating and oral hygiene;
    • to prevent the formation of an improper bite;
    • to improve the aesthetics of the smile (especially in case of diastema – a gap between the front teeth).

    In each case, the doctor evaluates the anatomy of the frenulum, the degree of restriction of the movement of the tongue, lips and decides on the need for correction.

    Indications for correction of frenulum anomaly

    An improperly attached or short frenulum of the tongue, lips can affect the development of speech, breathing and chewing functions, especially in children. In some cases, there are also orthodontic or periodontal consequences. Timely plastic surgery helps to avoid complications and restore normal function.

    Correction of the frenulum of the lips or tongue in children and adults may be necessary in such cases:

    • impaired sucking function in infants (breastfeeding difficulties);
    • problems with pronunciation of hissing sounds, as well as “l”, “p” sounds;
    • difficulties with swallowing or mouth breathing;
    • bite disorders due to forward displacement of the lower jaw;
    • limited mobility of the tongue, inability to stick the tongue out forward or upward;
    • displacement of the central incisors;
    • constant tension or pain in the hyoid muscles;
    • periodontal disease caused by a tight frenulum;
    • an obstacle to orthodontic treatment or speech therapy.

    The doctor decides whether dental frenulum plasty is necessary after examination, functional tests and, if necessary, consultation with a speech therapist or orthodontist.

    How is frenulum trimming surgery performed at Dynasty Stomatology?

    Frenulum plasty is performed quickly, in sterile conditions, using local anesthesia appropriate to the patient’s age. The doctor selects the method of intervention depending on the type of frenulum and the degree of anatomical restriction.

    Types of frenulum plasty at Dynasty Stomatology:

    1. Incision (frenulotomy). A simple and gentle frenulum plasty in which the frenulum is incised to restore mobility, for example, if it connects the lips and gums. Suitable for infants and early childhood.
    2. Excision (frenectomy). Assumes complete removal of the frenulum with subsequent suturing. Your doctor may recommend trimming the frenulum of the upper lip or tongue if it is tight and short, especially in adults.
    3. Frenulum plasty (frenuloplasty). It involves moving it to form a new attachment. It is used to eliminate the gap between the front teeth and normalize the bite.
    4. Laser-assisted plasty. Bloodless and gentle method with minimal traumatization, does not require stitches.

    Plasty of the frenulum of the tongue and lips takes an average of 15-30 minutes and does not require long-term recovery. In most cases, the patient can return to a normal regimen on the day of surgery.

    Stages of plastic surgery of the frenulum of the upper lip and tongue

    The operation is quick and painless. The doctor selects the technique taking into account age, location of the frenulum and clinical indications.

    The main steps of the procedure:

    1. Consultation with a dentist. Before the surgical intervention is carried out examination, diagnosis, determination of indications and selection of the optimal method of intervention.
    2. Anesthesia. Local anesthesia is used, suitable for the age and sensitivity of the patient.
    3. Fixation of the tongue or lip. For accuracy and safety, they are fixed with a special tool.
    4. Surgical incision. The doctor uses a scalpel and performs dissection, excision or displacement of the frenulum, depending on the type of pathology.
    5. Suturing (if necessary). With more complex correction, the tissue edges are carefully sutured with biocompatible threads.

    Surgery for frenulum plasty in most cases does not require hospitalization and prolonged recovery.

    Features of the postoperative period

    After plastic frenulum of the tongue, upper and lower lip, it is important to follow simple recommendations to accelerate healing and avoid complications:

    • avoid spicy, hot and hard foods for the first few days;
    • drink cool beverages to reduce swelling;
    • adults should avoid alcohol and smoking for at least one week;
    • start oral hygiene on the second day after frenulum correction;
    • do myogymnastics (tongue and lip exercises as prescribed by your doctor);
    • rinse your mouth with antiseptics prescribed by your dentist.

    At what age is it better to perform plastic surgery of the frenulum of the lips and tongue?

    The optimal age depends on the localization and severity of the problem:

    1. Plasty of the tongue in children with pronounced disorders (for example, difficult sucking in an infant) is carried out from 1 month of life. If speech is not impaired, you can wait until 4-5 years of age, when the active formation of speech begins.
    2. Frenulum defects are more often corrected after 6 years of age, especially if they interfere with the eruption or closing of the front incisors, orthodontic treatment.
    3. In adults, plastic frenulum of the tongue and lips can be done at any age, if there are indications: discomfort, problems with the bite, hygiene or speech.

    Cost of frenulum plasty

    The cost of the procedure depends on the chosen method of correction, the age of the patient and the complexity of the case. At Dynasty Stomatology, we offer transparent pricing and an individualized approach to each client.

    If you need frenulum plasty of the upper or lower lip, tongue, for an accurate calculation of the cost, make an appointment with us for a consultation. The operation is performed by experienced specialists who will find an approach to each patient.

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