
Dec
Patients in the Skowhegan, Maine community and beyond who are looking for quality dental care are encouraged to work with the team at the Maine Center for Dental Medicine with Drs. Mohammed Imam and Shafiulla Khan. Our professionals have years of combined experience in offering a variety of dental treatment solutions for patients, including a laser dental treatment known as a frenectomy.
Before you can understand the frenectomy procedure, you must understand more about the frenum. There are two types of frenums in the mouth that may need to be treated:
The lingual frenum is the tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth. When tight, it can make it difficult for someone to even stick out their tongue. Another frenum that may cause issues, specifically with speech for some, is the maxillary labial frenum. This is the tissue that connects the upper gums to the lip. This frenum can be felt when you run your tongue underneath the upper lip. If tight, this frenum can be problematic for many adults, often causing the two front teeth to space apart even after orthodontic treatment to pull them together. Luckily, both frenums can be treated with a procedure called a frenectomy. Many times, these issues are caught when patients are infants and are often treated immediately when found, as they can result in issues with feeding. However, some adults decide to have their frenums treated with frenectomies.
The frenectomy is a simple and fast dental procedure that is done for the treatment of a tight frenum. This procedure is done with optimum comfort in mind at the Maine Center for Dental Medicine. First, patients will come into the office for a consultation appointment and examination to determine if they can benefit from this procedure. Once patients have chosen to move forward with the frenectomy, they are made comfortable in the dental chair. The area is numbed, and then our professionals will use a special laser light device to vaporize the tissues of the frenum. By using laser technology, our team can avoid the use of stitches which may be required for more manual frenectomies that involve cutting away the tissue. Frenectomies are simplistic procedures that many of our patients have done for a variety of benefits, and we encourage patients to consider treatment of the frenum if needed.
Many infants have frenectomies done because it becomes an issue for feeding. Babies with tight or long frenums will often have difficulties in feeding and sucking. This can also cause pain and discomfort for breastfeeding mothers. The procedure is often done in a pediatrician’s office when babies are young to correct the issue as soon as possible. However, some children grow up with tight or long frenums and never have treatment. Issues such as separating front teeth and problems with clear speech may be impacted by this tissue, making treatment more necessary as patients become adults. Some patients may be aware of their frenums and act on their own, or they may be advised by their doctor or speech therapist that a frenectomy could resolve specific issues. It is best to speak to a professional about this procedure to determine if it is appropriate for your unique needs. Also, having a frenectomy done with a laser device, such as those performed in our office, is extremely beneficial as it eliminates the need for uncomfortable stitches and ensures precision treatment.
Adult patients who are interested in a frenectomy need to be evaluated by our team of professionals first to determine if it would be beneficial to them. Drs. Mohammed Imam and Shafiulla Khan of Maine Center for Dental Medicine are pleased to offer frenectomies with the use of our modern laser dental device. We welcome patients in and around the area to learn more about this and other laser dentistry procedures by calling the office at (207) 808-7355 and visiting us at 59 Pleasant Street.
A graduate from New York University College of Dentistry, Dr. Mohammed Imam began his practice in Nigeria and moved to the United Kingdom to continue his training in Oral & Maxillofacial Residency.
With over 30 years of expertise Dr. Imam regularly updates himself on modern techniques and methods whilst continuing to invest and perform procedures using the best technology and equipment to ensure his patients receive the best and most bio-compatible oral care possible.
Dr. Imam’s areas of specialty include implant dentistry, TMD and Orofacial pain. He is also SMART certified and a member of the Academy of General Dentistry.
An alumnus of New York University, Dr. Shafiulla Khan brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise gained over his 35 plus years of practicing dentistry. He is well known for his passion to improve his patients’ lives with his service. While being a SMART certified professional, Dr. Khan’s areas of specialty includes Tempro-mandibular Disorders, TMJ therapy and smile make overs. He remains a prestigious member of the International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) amongst many others.