Frena are an essential part of our smiles and keep our mouths healthy and functional. However, there are certain cases where the frena are hindering to the mouth’s daily activities, such as speaking and eating. What is a frenectomy, and why is it necessary?

What Is a Frenectomy?

A frenectomy is the removal or shortening of a frenum in the mouth. For some people, their frena may be elongated and cause problems, so a frenectomy will better shape the frenum and alleviate any discomfort or challenges.

A frenectomy could include the removal of one frenum or removal of several frena. Whichever frena are causing problems are the ones that will need attention to help your mouth be comfortable and functional again. Any frena have the potential to cause problems!

When Is a Frenectomy Necessary?

There are a few scenarios in which a frenum or frena would need to be removed. For example, if the lingual frenum (underneath the tongue) is too long, it can cause infants discomfort or difficulty when eating. This is what constitutes the phrase “tongue-tied”—having an elongated lingual frenum that essentially binds your tongue to the bottom of your mouth.

For labial frenum (which connect your lips to your mouth), there may be problems when getting orthodontic treatment as your child gets older. If the labial frena extend too far, they can actually cause a gap between the front teeth. In some cases, the gap goes away once the permanent teeth come in; however, if it doesn’t, a frenectomy may be necessary to fully address spacing issues when your child is receiving orthodontic treatment.

Who Performs the Procedure?

An oral surgeon will usually perform the frenectomy. The procedure is simple—usually lasting only about 15 minutes—and recovery time is relatively short, approximately two weeks. Unless the frena are causing a problem such as hindering your infant from feeding or causing speech problems as your child gets older, typically noninvasive treatments are considered first.

However, a frenectomy may be necessary under certain circumstances. Any dentist, especially a good pediatric dentist, can evaluate your child for problems with any of their frena to determine if they could be affecting your child’s ability to eat, speak, or will create problems with teeth spacing later in life.

If you notice your child is having issues, you may be able to gently check their frena for elongation. However, scheduling an appointment with your child-friendly dentist is important to have a professional evaluation. For some children, frena don’t need to be noticeably elongated to cause problems. A frenectomy is a simple procedure that can help your child overcome these challenges and have a pain-free, functional smile for life!

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The joint continues to grow throughout these years, coming into its adult position sometime
during the teenage years. This is a common time period for children or parents to realize a TMJ
disorder may be present.

Problems with the TMJ are particularly pronounced in females. Symptoms can increase as the
child gets older, so seeking treatment as soon as possible is important. What TMJ treatment
options are available for children?

Identifying the Root Cause

First, your child’s dentist will need to identify the root cause of their TMJ pain in order to
implement effective treatment. There are numerous causes for pain in this complex joint,
including:

 An injury to the jaw
 Stress
 Teeth grinding
 Chewing on hard objects such as pencils, ice, or hard candy
 An improper bite

Fortunately, many of these causes of TMJ disorders respond relatively well to treatments that
are non-invasive. Once your dentist has identified the cause of your child’s discomfort, you can
then discuss treatment options.

Non-Invasive Treatments

There are a few non-invasive treatments you can try under the guidance of your dentist to help
alleviate your child’s TMJ pain. Although some TMJ disorders can only be managed rather than
corrected, others can have a more permanent solution.

One non-invasive treatment is a TMJ appliance. A TMJ appliance can reduce teeth clenching or
grinding which can help alleviate symptoms, especially if the root cause is found to be stress or
teeth grinding.

These appliances (which may also be called TMJ splints) may help reduce stress placed on the
TMJ or help gently move your child’s bite into position if an improper bite is found to be the
cause.

If your child is grinding their teeth, either a TMJ splint or a mouthguard will be needed to help
curb the damage. You can also limit hard foods, use warm or cold packs on the affected area, or
employ the help of physical therapy or even massage to help stop your child’s TMJ discomfort.

Orthodontics and Surgery

If your child has a misaligned bite that’s been determined to be causing their TMJ pain, they
may need orthodontics to fully correct the problem. Your dentist will refer you to an
orthodontist if a TMJ splint won’t work for your child’s particular case, or orthodontics are
needed for a more permanent solution.

In rare cases, surgery may be needed to correct the jaw’s position and alleviate pain. Surgery is
typically only considered as a last resort, but may be needed if your child has a severe bite
problem or a jaw injury.

Watch out for signs that your child is experiencing TMJ pain. They may complain that it hurts
when they chew, speak, or yawn. Your child may even complain that the sides of their face hurt
or that their teeth hurt. A thorough evaluation by your child-friendly dentist can determine the
problem and help implement a solution!

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From the day of to weeks later, here’s a general timeline you can expect for your wisdom tooth
extraction sites to heal.

Immediately After: 1-3 Days of Soreness

After the procedure, blood clots will form over the surgical site and protect your wisdom teeth
sockets until they heal. Many people choose to have their wisdom tooth extractions done on a Friday so that they can
rest the weekend. This is sound logic, as most people can generally expect about 1-3 days of
soreness following the procedure. The pain is usually controlled with medication that you’ll
receive from your dentist.

You should ideally plan at least 2 days to rest without working or any intense activity after the
procedure. This includes any moderate to intense exercise. Your oral surgeon can let you know
more about what to expect based on your particular case.

Weeks Later: On Your Way to Healing

You still need to take it easy when it comes to brushing and chewing even after the soreness
subsides and you resume your regular activities.

It could take up to 3 weeks for the softer tissues to completely heal and for your mouth to feel
close to normal again. This will vary from person to person, based on factors such as your
health, age, and if your dentist needed to remove more bone or tissue than normal during your
procedure based on the position of your wisdom teeth.

Some people may still experience soreness a week after the procedure, so don’t be alarmed. Be
sure to speak with your oral surgeon about what you should expect. There will also be signs to
look out for, such as if your pain or swelling gets worse or if you notice any signs of infection.
Always call your dentist or oral surgeon with any questions you may have!

Months Later: Bone and Tissue Rebuild

Finally, once your discomfort is gone and you can eat, drink, and brush normally, your mouth
will heal itself from the inside. Now that your surgical site is mostly healed and your sutures are
dissolved, the bone and tissue will rebuild itself and your mouth will be completely healed. This
usually takes a minimum of 6 weeks and up to 6 months.

Don’t worry—you won’t feel a thing while your body ensures that your jaw bone is totally
healed and you can enjoy life without the worry of wisdom teeth!

To sum up, you can expect roughly 3 days of mild discomfort after your procedure, with up to
2-3 weeks being normal for the inner tissues to heal. You can expect your bone and deep
tissues to completely heal after a few weeks and up to a few months. Your wisdom teeth
recovery will be much faster than you think, and you’ll be back to normal again before you
know it!

The post How Long Will My Wisdom Tooth Removal Take to Heal? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Never start the day without breakfast! For this meal, you’ve got several options. You can enjoy warm oatmeal with apples, cinnamon, and honey to wake up your taste buds. You may also choose to eat yogurt with some soft fruit such as oranges or banana in it. If you’re more of a hearty breakfast person, fried, scrambled, or hard-boiled eggs back a protein punch! You can also opt for pancakes—just be sure they’re soft enough for you to chew.

For Lunch: Soft Breads, Soup, Smoothies

As lunchtime approaches, reach for things like soft breads or soup. A tuna fish sandwich or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich should be easy enough to chew, but do your best to avoid meats, as they can be difficult to chew with your stitches. An exception here would be chicken soup—the meat should be soft enough to eat with minimal chewing. Smoothies are also an excellent option and can pack vital nutrients for healing! Try spinach, banana, and frozen berries blended with milk or yogurt to soothe your sore mouth.

For Snack: Avocado, Banana, Applesauce

There are plenty of fruits to eat for a snack in the afternoon or really anytime throughout the day. Avocados are full of healthy fats and are soft and perfect for easy consumption. Ripened bananas are an easy to-go snack and are mushy enough to require almost no chewing at all! Applesauce can feel cool and soothing on your mouth and is easy to eat after you’ve gotten your wisdom teeth out.

For Dinner: Pasta, Fish, Mashed Potatoes

Pasta such as macaroni and cheese is perfect when well-cooked for your post wisdom teeth removal diet. You may also choose to eat fish, as it’s usually soft enough to eat. Be sure to stay away from any fresh fish that may still contain bones, as these can poke and injure your surgical site. Mashed potatoes are also a great choice. For more plant-based options, try beans, steamed spinach, and tofu with your dinner!

For Dessert: Ice Cream and Pudding

Don’t forget about dessert! These cool foods can help stop swelling in your mouth and be a treat for after your surgery. Grab your favorite ice cream at the store and put pudding in the fridge or freezer to cool before eating. Your mouth will thank you!

Getting your wisdom teeth removed can be uncomfortable, but the procedure is simple and your mouth will easily heal within a few days. By having these soft foods at home, you can ensure that you relax, heal, and have plenty of food choices so you don’t have to go hungry. Choose these soft foods after wisdom tooth removal!

The post What Can I Eat After Wisdom Tooth Removal? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Gingival surgery is a treatment for gum disease that involves grafting the gums so that they can heal from the bacteria and infections that caused gum disease, and most importantly, protect and support your teeth as they were meant to do.

Gum grafting is a procedure that many patients with advanced gum disease need in order to have a successful treatment. During this treatment, healthy gum tissue will be taken from one part of your mouth (typically the roof) and attached around the affected tooth or teeth to repair the damage done from the gum recession.

When Should Gingival Surgery Be Considered?

If you have gum disease, your dentist will likely recommend a deep cleaning procedure to see if this will help your gum disease. During this procedure, your dentist will do what is called root planing and scaling, which is also called periodontal therapy. During periodontal therapy, your dentist will remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria that are contributing to your gum disease. This is the scaling part; the root planing part helps to smooth your tooth’s root in order to keep the bacteria and plaque from going back beneath the gums. This procedure is meant to allow your mouth to heal from gum disease.

However, if periodontal therapy is unsuccessful and your gums have receded past a certain point, your dentist may suggest gingival surgery. Gingival surgery should only be considered after periodontal therapy has proven ineffective.

What Can Patients Expect During the Procedure?

During the procedure, a piece of healthy gum tissue will be removed from one part of your mouth and be attached to the receding gums of your tooth or teeth. After the procedure, you’ll be allowed to go home with aftercare instructions.

Your oral surgeon will advise you to avoid brushing or flossing the tooth or teeth that received the gum grafts, and you may have a special rinse to help your mouth remain clean while it’s healing. You may also need some over-the- counter pain medications to ease your discomfort of the portion of your mouth from which the graft was taken.

Healing time is different for everyone, but talk with your oral surgeon and be sure to carefully follow his or her instructions. Always seek help if you have questions or concerns! Gingival surgery is considered a safe and effective treatment when it comes to significant gum recession as a result of gum disease. Gum recession often happens slowly, so you may not notice a changed appearance or the symptoms until it’s too late. Regular checkups can help your dentist spot gum disease before gingival surgery is necessary!

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Chronic Pain or Jaw Issues

Usually any jaw issues people have relate to the structure of the jaw. This means the problem isn’t anything you did or didn’t do—it’s just the way your unique facial structure is. However, many people suffer from jaw problems such as temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), which can cause chronic pain in your jaw as well as the joints that hold your jaw in place.

As a result of a misaligned jaw, your teeth may experience uneven wear. You may not even be able to close your mouth properly. These issues are cumbersome and warrant a visit to your dentist to discuss if oral surgery is right for you. Although oral surgery is a process that will likely involve orthodontic care before or after the surgery, it can correct your jaw and help you to remain pain-free and healthy for life.

Trouble Chewing, Breathing, and Swallowing

People who suffer from TMJ and other jaw alignment issues may also experience trouble chewing and swallowing, possibly even talking or breathing. These problems can hinder your daily living and even pose medical risks. This is when the misalignment of your jaw should be evaluated by an oral surgeon to see if orthognathic surgery is right for you. Your oral surgeon can reposition the bones and correct these problems along with orthodontic care to ensure your jaw and mouth don’t give you any more problems. If you experience pain while chewing, difficulty breathing, and trouble swallowing as a result of misalignment of your teeth or jaw, your dentist can help you determine if oral surgery would help. Your symptoms may also accompany an uneven facial appearance due to your jaw structure.

Imbalanced Facial Structure

Orthognathic surgery is normally not for purely atheistic reasons, although people who experience an imbalanced facial structure often have other misalignment issues that go along with a protruding or receding jaw. People who cannot properly close their mouth may have trouble not breathing through their mouth, which can create loud breathing and even dry mouth. Oral surgery can improve your appearance dramatically, but remember that this procedure is designed to correct the symptoms of your jaw or teeth misalignment. The improvement of your appearance will be a welcome result of the surgery along with the alleviation of your symptoms.

Talk with your dentist if oral surgery could be an option for you if you suffer from TMJ, chronic jaw pain, have problems chewing and speaking, or have an uneven facial appearance. Orthognathic surgery could help alleviate your symptoms and correct your jaw, therefore bringing you a safer and stunning smile for life!

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