Labial Frenectomy

The frenum is an oral mucosal band behind lips and cheeks which consists of fibrous connective tissue. These attachments connect lip and cheek to the alveolar mucosa or gingiva and the underlying periosteum. Labial frenum sometime endanger the periodontal tissue’s health because it is attached near the margin of gingiva and interfere with the plaque-control or muscle traction may cause gingival recession. Also, the labial frenum may causes dental esthetic problems or compromise the orthodontic result in the midline diastema cases, thus causing a recurrence after the treatment. In addition to these problems, in case of prosthetic rehabilitation of mouth with implant or denture, it can cause soft tissue interfere with border of denture or implant structures. The management of these oral soft tissue problems caused by frena is performing a frenectomy. This chapter is a comprehensive overview about the frenum, indications and contraindications of frenectomy, advantages and the disadvantages of various frenectomy techniques, like simple excision, V-Y plasty, Z-plasty and frenectomy by laser and electrosurgery.