Anyone had a Frenectomy???

[reevsy25]

Hi all,

Just wondered whether anyone has had a frenectomy (small piece of skin inbetween two front teeth removed), or decided against it?

I had traditional braces as a child, and the gap between my two front teeth reopened- probably because I didnt wear my retainers to be honest! Anyway, I'm now on Invisiglin, lowers complete and uppers, tray 15 of 20. I've found that with the last two trays I can really notice the difference if I've had my aligners out a little longer than I should as they are a little painful when putting them back in.

Anyways, I don;t know if this is just because I'm approaching the end, andits when the most dramatic and noticeable changes happen, or whether its because I have a tiny dangly bit of skin between my two front teeth which may be preventing the gap from closing.

My ortho suggested that I may need a frenectomy in my initial consultation however has not mentioned it since until I brought it up in conversation because of the pain I am experiencing. I do wonder whether the frenectomy would have been recommended if I hadn;t of brought it up. Seems now I've mentioned it, I should have a consultation at a further cost, and then I may be told by the new consultant that its not even necessary! If the consultant does suggest it, which I'm sure he probably will, there is then the cost of the procedure.

I kind of feel pushed into a corner because I'm now being told if I don't have it, then there is no guarantee that my gap will not reopen. Funny that, considering all this time, my ortho has allowed my gap to close and not mentioned anything about the frenectomy. I feel like its just another way of making more money out of me and guilt tripping me into feeling like if I don't have it, I'll be the author of my own misfortune!

Now I'm all for having the procedure after all the time and money I've spent, but will research it and probably go elsewhere to have it done. What I really want to know is has anyone else experienced this?

Your help/advice is appreciated!

[pinkfaith]

I just asked my ortho about this today (I'm only on trays 5 of 25). He never said anything about it in the consultation but my normal dentist brought it up during cleaning. My ortho basically said it depends on how the teeth close so I have to wait until end of this year-ish.

He did tell me he will be attaching a small wire brace type thing on the back of my two front teeth when my treatment is completed to keep the teeth in place. So when I'm done I'll be wearing my retainer (top only) for every night for at least a year and during the day this permanent brace will be there to make sure the teeth are settling where they should be instead of closing at night and moving during the day and back and forth.

Good luck and hope you don't have to get it. Although if you want straight teeth and you've already invested this much time and money you might as well go all the way...

[ChicagoB]

I had a frenectomy while waiting for my aligners - I had about 6 weeks between my impressions being done and delivery of first aligners so I had a frenectomy and extraction of my wisdom teeth. I had a very large gap between my front teeth and I was told my the ortho that getting the frenectomy will prevent the gap from reappearing after my treatment.

The procedure was not too bad - took a few weeks before the stitches finally dissolved, but I'm glad I did it. No use spending all this time in braces only to have the gap reappear over a piece of useless skin.

To be honest, I can;t quite recall how much it cost - my insurance covered part of it and I don't think I paid more than a few hundred dollars. Don't hold me to that. I;m not sure when you plan on doing yours but u'll need to wait until after you're done with the aligners. Your mouth would be a bit sore.