Why is Myofunctional Therapy Important When Having a Frenectomy?

If you or your child is considering having a frenectomy, a.k.a. frenulectomy, it is best to see a myofunctional therapist first. A myofunctional therapist will guide you on exercises and stretches designed to target the key muscles of the tongue. By engaging these muscles and strengthening the tongue before a release, the outcome of the surgery will be a better success. After your tongue is released, it is important to continue seeing your Myofunctional Therapist for additional exercises and best practices of healing.

One of the main goals of myofunctional therapy is proper tongue resting position. This includes placing the entire tongue (the tip, middle, and back) onto the roof of the mouth. The true success of the frenectomy can only be measured when the tongue can comfortably hold this position. Your myofunctional therapist focuses on this goal, so together, with consistency and motivation, this goal is easily met.

Preparing these muscles prior to a release directly impacts the success of the procedure because the exercises and stretches enable the tongue to start using muscles it may have never used before.