Release a tight lip or tongue tie with a quick, numbed procedure at our office on Armitage Avenue.
A thin fold of tissue no wider than a pencil line can have a surprising effect on your mouth. When the band connecting your lip or tongue to your gums is too short or too tight, it may pull on your gumline, hold your front teeth apart, or keep your tongue from moving freely. A frenectomy releases that band so your mouth can move and heal the way it should.
Cityview Dental Arts is Dental Group of Chicago’s office in Bucktown, and frenectomy is one of the many services our team provides as your dentist in Bucktown. We handle the evaluation, the procedure, and your follow-up visit in one office on Armitage Avenue, so there is rarely a need to send you somewhere else.
Everyone has several small folds of tissue called frenula. One connects the underside of your tongue to the floor of your mouth, another joins your upper lip to the gums above your front teeth, and smaller ones attach your cheeks to your gums. A frenectomy is a minor procedure that removes or loosens one of these bands when it is tight enough to cause trouble. It is a common form of oral surgery in Bucktown and is typically finished in a single short visit.
A restricted frenum is more common than many people think. According to the Cleveland Clinic, anywhere from 1% to 11% of newborns show signs of tongue tie, and the condition can also affect some adults. Many people with a tight frenum never need treatment, so a careful exam comes first.
Dr. Bock founded Cityview Dental Arts and continues to treat patients from the Bucktown office today. His long history in the neighborhood means many patients have trusted him with their care for years, now backed by the resources of Dental Group of Chicago.
A short frenum does not always cause symptoms, so a professional exam matters. These are some of the changes that may lead our team to recommend a frenectomy.
Many of these signs show up during a routine dental exam in Bucktown, where our team checks how your lips, tongue, and gums move together.
The type of frenectomy you need depends on which band is causing the problem. Our Bucktown dentists explain what they see and why a release may help before any treatment is scheduled.
This procedure releases the band between your upper lip and gums. It is often considered when a thick frenum keeps the front teeth apart or pulls on the gumline. If you are closing a gap with Invisalign in Bucktown, releasing the band may help the space stay closed after treatment.
A tongue frenectomy loosens the tissue under the tongue, commonly called a tongue tie. The goal is easier tongue movement for eating, swallowing, and cleaning your teeth.
Smaller bands near the back teeth can also attach too close to the gumline. Releasing them may ease pressure on the gums and help a denture or partial sit more securely.
Before we begin, the area is numbed with local anesthesia, so most patients feel light pressure rather than pain. Your dentist then removes or releases the tight band of tissue and may place a few small stitches. The appointment is usually brief, and you can head home soon after with written aftercare steps.
Mild soreness and swelling are common for a few days and typically respond to over-the-counter pain relief. Soft, cool foods such as yogurt, smoothies, and soup can make eating easier while you heal, and gentle warm salt water rinses help keep the area clean. Your dentist may also suggest simple stretches so the tissue heals loosely. Most of the healing happens within one to two weeks, and a follow-up visit lets us confirm everything looks right.
A minor procedure should come with a clear price. Our team reviews your dental coverage with you before your frenectomy and explains what your plan may contribute, so you know what to expect before treatment begins.
Cherry financing is available if you would like to spread any remaining balance over time. New patients without dental insurance can also begin with our $99 visit, which includes an initial cleaning, a comprehensive exam, and a full set of digital X-rays.
Dr. Jerome Bock founded Cityview Dental Arts and still treats patients in our Bucktown office, now with the support of Dental Group of Chicago. Our team completes most procedures in-house, so your frenectomy is planned, performed, and followed up by the same familiar office.
We are open until 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, which makes it easier to fit a short procedure into a busy week. Our comfort menu adds heated blankets, neck pillows, eucalyptus wipes, and a coffee bar, so your visit feels calm from start to finish.
The area is numbed with local anesthesia before the procedure starts, so most patients feel pressure rather than pain. Some tenderness afterward is normal and usually fades within a few days.
Most of the healing happens within one to two weeks. Many patients return to work or school the next day and eat soft foods for the first few days.
A lip tie involves the band connecting the upper lip to the gums above the front teeth. A tongue tie involves the band under the tongue, which can limit how far the tongue lifts or moves.
Yes. A frenectomy can be done at any age when a tight frenum is causing problems, such as gum recession, a gap between the front teeth, or trouble with denture fit.
The tissue can sometimes heal tighter than planned, which is why your dentist may recommend gentle stretches during recovery. Following your aftercare steps gives the area the best chance to heal loosely.
A frenectomy alone does not usually close a gap. It removes the band holding the teeth apart, and orthodontic treatment such as clear aligners can then move the teeth together.
Our Bucktown office, Cityview Dental Arts, is located at 2232 W. Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647.
Cityview Dental Arts is open Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Use any Book Appointment button on this page to choose a time online, and our team will confirm your visit. New patients are always welcome.
Bucktown neighbors choose Cityview Dental Arts because they can see a familiar team for everything from routine exams to minor procedures like a frenectomy. As part of Dental Group of Chicago, our office pairs the feel of a neighborhood practice with evening hours, a comfort menu, and straightforward guidance about your options.
If a tight lip or tongue tie is pulling on your gums, holding your teeth apart, or making your mouth feel restricted, a quick evaluation can tell you whether a frenectomy may help. Contact our Bucktown office to schedule your frenectomy consultation.
2232 W. Armitage Ave
Chicago, IL
Monday – Wednesday
Thursday
Saturday – Sunday
8 AM – 8 PM
10 AM – 6 PM
Closed
