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, and can refer to frenula in several places on the body. In the mouth, frenectomies are usually performed for periodontal or orthodontic reasons: a frenectomy of the lip frenum is called a labial frenectomy, and one under the tongue is called a lingual frenectomy. Frenectomies are performed on infants, children and adults, and a related but less extensive procedure, a frenulotomy, releases the frenum without completely excising it.