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In the episode “What Most Dentists Miss About Frenectomy” from The Untethered Way, Dr. Meggie Graham and Dr. Liz Turner address a reality many dentists have experienced: frenectomy outcomes can be inconsistent when the focus remains on “the cut” rather than the full clinical system.
But the conversation also highlights something especially relevant for laser dentists: when you understand how different instruments interact with soft tissue, you can make more consistent, outcomes-based decisions. That’s exactly why their frenectomy course includes a dedicated module with LightScalpel founder Peter Vitruk, PhD, focused on the “why” behind CO2 laser tissue interaction—not just a technique checklist.
“We did a module with Peter Vitruk, the founder of LightScalpel, and he goes deep into the physics of why we are so obsessed with the CO2 laser and why it’s such a perfect instrument for this specific procedure.”
Why this matters: they’re not positioning a LightScalpel CO2 laser as a trendy add-on. They’re pointing to physics and tissue interaction as the reason they trust it for frenectomy, because predictable outcomes depend on predictable energy behavior in tissue.
Why Many Frenectomy Results Vary (Even When the Technique Looks “Right”)
A key theme in the episode is that frenectomy is not a one-step procedure. Drs. Graham and Turner emphasize that clinical success depends heavily on what happens before and after the release:
- Case selection and timing
- A repeatable surgical protocol
- Clear post-operative protocols and healing support
- Systems that reduce guesswork for the team and patient
In other words, you can’t “tool your way” out of weak diagnostics or inconsistent follow-up. But once the system is in place, the instrument can meaningfully influence precision, control, and the healing experience.
Why They Prefer a CO2 Laser (and Why Lightscalpel Comes Up)
They are clear that frenectomies can be performed with multiple instruments (including non-laser techniques). The difference, as they describe it, is what you gain when you choose what they view as a more controlled and precise option.
“You can do this procedure with a scissor, a scalpel, a diode, an erbium… but there is a measure of safety and precision and healing opportunity that can come with using what’s… superior in our opinion.”
Why this matters: that statement is the “so what” behind LightScalpel. They say the procedure can be done in many ways, but they prefer a CO2 laser when the goal is consistent outcomes, a wider margin of control, and a better healing experience.
If you want the science side of that point, LightScalpel’s laser-tissue interaction education page is a helpful reference.
Do You Need a CO2 Laser to Start?
They address the most common hesitation dentists have: “Do I need a CO2 laser to do this? No, you don’t need to have a CO2 laser. You’re going to want it, though.”
Why this matters: They’re acknowledging that frenectomy care is not “device-gated.” But their clinical experience has led them to prefer the CO2 laser approach—and Dr. Peter Vitruk’s module is positioned as the foundational explanation for that preference.
