Deposition of gum and/or tooth pulp is called pulpification. When this occurs in humans, it is referred to as pulpectomy.
Pulpectomy is typically performed for two reasons. The first is to remove the source of pulpification, which can be dangerous if not accomplished correctly. The second is to replace this removed material with new material that has been prepared and placed in place to match the existing structure.
The new material may be extracted from either human or animal sources. Examples include bone, cartilage, and tissue derived materials such as gut or skin cells. In recent years, advances in dental technology have made possible the replacement of both old and new material with silicon chips!
This procedure is typically performed by a specialized individual at an operating room setting.
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Reasons for a frenectomy
A frenectomy is a procedure performed when a bite is damaged beyond repair. A frenotomy is the removal of the top layer of skin surrounding a bite or cut.
When severe chewing damage occurs, the bone may break through the existing skin and into your teeth. This type of damage is very rare, but if it happens, it can be devastating.
To prevent this, Dr. van der Peet performs a periodontal release procedure, which resecures the bones behind the teeth with an implant. After this, he performs a frenectomy to remove the brokenbone and replace it with new bone from elsewhere in his patient’s jaw.
Risks of a frenectomy
A frenectomy is a procedure performed in dentistry. Frenectomies are very common in young people, due to their natural sensitivity to pain.
But as people get older, the risk of complications increases. There are two types of frenectomy: root and crown.
A root frenotomy is when the bite is reduced at the back of the mouth, creating a root that can be fixed in place with orthodroxy (crowning) or alternative material (root).
A crowning can be used if for example there was trauma to the outside of the mouth, causing thickened or collapsed areas of the tooth structure. A crown can also be used if there was significant wear and erosion during previous oral care treatments.
A second type of frenotomy is called a crown-bite conversion. This procedure can help prevent future problems by reducing the prominence of a broken down or contused Crown Bite Prevention Procedure (CPPBP).
Before your procedure
A frenectomy is a procedure that removes part or all of the frenum, a short length of hair on the back of your neck that runs between your neck and lower front section.
It can be done as a replacement procedure, or as a stand-alone treatment. It can be either upper or lower frenum based on which part is removed.
If you have a upper frenum, then you would get an upper frenectomy. If you have a lower Frenum, then you would get a lower Frenectomy. You can have it both ways!
Upper and lower fetuses are different in structure and function. So, if you were going to have itLower Facial Surgery for example), then the Lower Facial Surgeon would do it on your when you were in your early years so that it reached its full potential.
After your procedure
Following a Frenectomy surgery, your doctor will generally give you a one- to two-week period of recovery to allow you time to heal and adjust to the procedure. This includes providing any needed instructions on how to move around and practicing good brushing and flossing techniques.
During this time, your doctor will help you get up and about as best as possible to maintain your recovery environment and yourself. You will typically be able to walk with help on how the surgical mask is used as a crutch.
After this two-to-four week window, you can return to normal activities! Most of the time, patients feel good enough to go back to work or school the next day.
This procedure is great for patients who have had other areas that were bad enough to need reconstruction such as periareolar (around the mouth) or full thickness (oververage) cancer reconstruction. It can give them more confidence in their oral health needs going forward.
What to expect after your frenectomy
After a frenectomy, your dentist will clean and protect your crown and bridge. He or she will then re-attach the gum to the top of the bridge. This re-attachment is called re-positioning the bridge.
Then the dentist will remove some material from around the root of the tooth. This is his or her lab model of what the new tooth will look like. The doctor can’t guarantee this lab model will actually look like your old tooth, but it’s a start.
After that, the dentist can either glue in a new replacement or he or she can replace it with an implant. If he or she tries an implant, it must be strong enough to hold up for several years!
Last, the doctor may need to take some measurements to figure out how much space there is for a new tooth to grow.
How to care for your mouth after your frenectomy
After a frenectomy, your dentist will recommend you avoid chewing and swallowing for a week. This lets the extraction team get the chance to clean and protect the jawbone.
After that, you can eat most things except fruits and vegetables. You can also drink light soda, water, or tea. Most dental offices offer some sort of bouillon as a meal replacement.
You should not go anywhere without pain medication for your frenectomy surgery. This is because your body may need time to adjust to not having any teeth in place. If you were heavily involved in food and entertainment leading up to your surgery, you may have very little post-surgery pain.
Talk to your dentist about getting a frenectomy
The frenectomy was developed as a way to reduce the pressure and swelling that occurs in the mouth when the top of the teeth is removed. The technique was originally used in terms of reducing car insurance rates as it requires little to no preparation of the teeth before surgery.
The removal of part of the upper right lateral incisor is performed, and an extraction system is attached to it. This allows for drainage of excess fluid from the mouth after surgery, and prevents possible bacteria from entering through an open bite.
Once in recovery, patients are kept on oral analgesics such as acetaminophen and paracetamol for pain relief. They are also advised to eat a full meal two days after surgery due to increased pain and hunger symptoms.
On day three post-op, patients are given sedation so they do not feel as worried during their recovery process. They are also given hydrocortisone to slow any pain and healing processes.
Know the risks before getting a frenectomy
A frenectomy is a surgery that removes part of the inner side of the lower front teeth. There are two types of frenectomy: outer and inner.
The outer frenectomy is more common and removes part of the upper front teeth as well as some of the bottom front teeth. The inner frenotomy is less common and only removes part of the top front teeth.
Both can be positive effects: removing part of your upper and lower teeth can aid in oral health, spacing out medications, or just letting you socialize with your smile again.
Reasons to have a frenotomy are mostly cosmetic, but could be negative: feeling pressured to have all new upper and lower teeth when no one needs new dental equipment except for the removal of some teeth.