Boris Gaspirc: Frenulotomy - Different Treatment Techniques
The frenum is a mucous membrane fold that attaches the lip and cheek to the alveolar mucosa, the gingiva, and the underlying periosteum. The frenum may jeopardize the gingival health if it is attached too closely to the gingival margin, either due to an interference in plaque control or due to a muscle pull. In addition to this, the maxillary frenum may present aesthetic concerns or compromise the orthodontic result in midline diastema cases, thus causing a recurrence after the treatment.
The management of such an aberrant frenum is accomplished by performing a frenectomy or frenotomy.
The aim of the present study was to compare frenectomies of the upper lip frenum, using different kinds of lasers, with conventional V-Y frenectomy using a surgical blade. The procedures were evaluated for bleeding during the procedure, the thermal effect on surrounding tissues, the need for suturing, wound contraction and scar formation, as well as pain and discomfort on the day of the procedure and from 2 to 7 days after the procedure.