Functional Releases in Airway Dentistry, Part 5: Why Every Dental Team Should Be Performing Frenectomies
A Vivos Integrated Provider Series presented by The Vivos Institute
Frenectomies are more than a soft-tissue release—they are a gateway to functional wellness, airway health, and growth optimization. For Vivos Integrated Providers, understanding and performing frenectomies in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team extends your impact far beyond traditional dentistry.
This final article in the Functional Releases in Airway Dentistry series brings everything together—connecting structure, function, therapy, billing, and teamwork into a cohesive roadmap for airway-centered care.
A Foundation for Whole-Health Dentistry
The modern dental practice has evolved into a center for functional medicine and airway health. Through guided growth, oral appliance therapy, and integrative solutions like myofunctional therapy, dental teams are helping patients achieve not just better smiles, but better lives.
Frenectomies sit at the heart of that transformation. By releasing restrictive oral tissues, providers can:
- Restore tongue mobility and encourage nasal breathing.
- Support craniofacial growth and airway stability in children.
- Improve sleep quality and reduce OSA symptoms in adults.
- Enhance outcomes for guided growth, orthodontic, and Vivos appliance therapy.
A single release can be the catalyst for comprehensive health improvements when integrated into a structured treatment plan.
Why the Dental Team Is the Natural Leader
No other healthcare professional interacts with the oral complex as routinely or as thoroughly as the dental team. From hygienists to assistants to clinicians, your practice is positioned to identify functional concerns early—and act on them effectively.
Dentists understand occlusion, growth patterns, and airway anatomy.
Hygienists see functional limitations daily and educate patients on the “why.”
Assistants create calm, comfortable experiences and support post-op care.
Treatment coordinators communicate value, manage benefits, and set expectations.
Together, you are the bridge between structure and function—the team that can connect symptoms like mouth breathing, clenching, or poor sleep to their true source.
Integrating Frenectomies Into Your Airway Protocol
For practices already engaged in airway and sleep dentistry, frenectomy integration is a natural next step. Implementation success depends on three key pillars:
- Clinical Skill:
Master laser-assisted techniques (e.g., DEKA Laser) for precise, comfortable releases.
Understand incision vs. excision protocols and proper healing timelines.
- Functional Collaboration:
Partner closely with myofunctional therapists for pre- and post-release training to prevent re-attachment and ensure functional outcomes.
If you don’t have a Myo program yet, consider MyoSync—a virtual collaboration platform for Vivos practices that connects you with licensed therapists to support your patients.
- Operational Readiness:
Train your team on coding (D7961, D7962, 41115, etc.), proper documentation, and coordination between dental and medical billing.
Standardize your internal workflow—from scheduling and informed consent to pre-authorizations and patient education.
Expanding Your Scope, Impact, and Patient Experience
By performing frenectomies, your team gains the ability to:
- Address structural limitations contributing to airway dysfunction.
- Provide comprehensive, integrative care under one roof.
- Increase patient retention by offering a continuum of solutions.
- Generate consistent referrals from medical, lactation, and therapy professionals.
Patients today are looking for providers who can explain not just what is happening, but why—and offer a solution that treats the whole system. Functional releases give you that opportunity.
How This Series Comes Together
Over the past five articles, you’ve explored the complete functional release pathway:
- Understanding the Procedure:
What a frenectomy is, and why it’s foundational to airway health.
- Recognizing the Sleep Connection:
How oral tethers compromise breathing and restorative rest.
- Integrating Myofunctional Therapy:
The vital role of retraining muscles before and after release.
- Mastering the Business and Billing Side:
How to document, code, and submit clean claims to dental and medical payers.
- Empowering the Entire Team:
Building a clinical culture where every role contributes to functional outcomes.
Together, these elements form a roadmap to elevate your practice from airway awareness to functional mastery—aligning with Vivos’ mission to restore health and vitality through airway-centered dentistry.
The Next Step: Hands-On Mastery
Take your knowledge from theory to practice.
Join Dr. Kacy Jo at The Vivos Institute for Hands-On Frenectomy & Functional Release Training, designed specifically for Vivos Integrated Providers who are ready to expand their clinical scope and transform patient care.
In this course, you’ll learn:
- DEKA Laser-assisted surgical protocols for precision and healing
- Clinical integration with Myo and appliance therapy
- Team workflows for education, documentation, and billing
- Functional case studies connecting airway, growth, and outcomes
2026 Course Enrollment Now Open
Location: The Vivos Institute – Denver, CO
Explore Courses and Register →
Thank You for Following This Series
The Functional Releases in Airway Dentistry series was created to empower Vivos Integrated Providers with the clinical, functional, and business insights needed to lead in airway-focused care.
As we continue to innovate and expand education at The Vivos Institute, we invite you to share your experiences, successes, and case studies—because together, we are redefining what dentistry can achieve.
