extended frenulum - any experience

[lifeinthemidlands]

My dd (5) has just had a check up with a new dentist. She has a very large gap between her two front teeth, and he has said that in fact it is caused by her frenulum extending beyond where it normally stops ( it continues right between the teeth). He's suggesting she will need oral surgery in the future to correct (probably followed by orthodontic work). It sounds like pretty minor surgery, but was wondering if anyone had any experience as I'd never heard of it before.

Hello, my daughter who is 3 has the same as this. I took her to the doctor ages ago and they said it should naturally sort itself out.

She had her first dentist check up last month and he didnt mention it.

If they do anything about it they just snip it apparently. I think they spray it to numb it a bit and snip it. very simple procedure apparently.

I might mention it again next time i'm at the docs, she also has a large gap in her teeth from this.

Thanks. The dentist didn't seem to think it would sort itself out at this stage (she's obviously a few years older than your daughter). He also seemed to imply the operation would be a bit more complicated than that - interesting you were told it would just be a snip under local. My main concern is that if isn't sorted her second teeth may come through too close to it or even through it, which i would imagine would be extremely painful. Not sure if this is possible.

Might get a 2nd opinion. Obviously your first dentist hadn't noticed.
I had a huge gap with my 2nd teeth, a good couple of mm. It closed itself with no external help.

Thanks for that DeWe - will consider it

I'm a dentist, never done this procedure but there was a huge article about it in one of my journals last month. Looks very simple, makes a huge difference to moving the teeth together but you know, there's nowt wrong with a gap between your teeth!

The reason the teeth may not close is the large number of fibres that insert between the teeth (at the end of the frenulum), act like elastic and the teeth won't move through it or if they are moved by braces, they relapse because of the elastic type stuff in the space.

If dd hates the gap then it may be an option, not til she's older though.

I've got a gap in my teeth, wondered if my dd's was hereditary until I saw her frenulum, I love it, it looks really nice. Dentists have offered to close it in the past but it looks too nice.

Just noticed my ds 5 months has this - is it the same as a lip tie? Fil and sil both have gap in their teeth so wondering if heriditary? He also had tongue tie when born but that has been snipped. Will seek advice from dentist when he starts getting teeth

Grumpystiltskin - sorry not to respond earlier, but thanks for that. Am glad it means the teeth can't grow "through" the frenulum. Will see how she feels when se's older. Thanks for the other comments to.