A frenum is a fold tissue or muscle connecting the lips, cheek, or tongue to the jawbone. A frenectomy is the removal of one of these folds of tissue.

Sometimes a frenum can be attached too high on the gums causing either recession or spaces between teeth. The procedure to remove this is called a labial frenectomy and involves the removal of tissue attachment between the two front teeth as the gap between the teeth can again be pushed apart by the frenum even after it being initially corrected via a different procedure. The frenum can be attached is such a way that it prevents the baby teeth from coming through. A lingual frenectomy removes the fold of tissue under the tongue.