Management of Ankylogossia by Frenectomy- A Case Report
Meghna Singh
Department of Pedodontics, BBD College of Dental Sciences, Lucknow, India.
Ashish Saini *
Department of Periodontics, BBD College of Dental Sciences, Lucknow, India.
Pranav Kumar Singh
Department of Periodontics, BBD College of Dental Sciences, Lucknow, India.
Charu Tandon
Department of Periodontics, BBD College of Dental Sciences, Lucknow, India.
Snehlata Verma
Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, BBD College of Dental Sciences, Lucknow, India.
Tanu Tewari
Department of Conservative Denstistry and Endodontics, BBD College of Dental Sciences, Lucknow, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: The tongue is an important oral structure that is responsible for speech, swallowing, positioning of the teeth, and taste. Ankyloglossia or “tongue-tie” is due to an abnormally thick and shortened lingual frenum causing difficulty in speech articulation and breast-feeding because of limited tongue movement. Management of this condition has been controversial with different specialties having opposing views regarding its clinical significance and management.
Surgical Procedure: A 17 year-old-male with ankyloglossia and a chief complaint of difficulty with underwent frenectomy under local anaesthesia using a standard surgical technique that was followed with speech therapy.
Results: One month follow up showed marked improvement in tongue movements with no signs of recurrence.
Conclusion: Early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention generally helps the patient to avoid long-term effects of these problems. (The patient was 17 years old so there was no early diagnosis and surgical intervention as he needed speech therapy.) A better conclusion might be that early childhood treatment might avoid difficulty with speech and the need for therapy later in life.
Keywords: Ankyloglossia, frenectomy, frenotomy, frenuloplasty, tongue-tie.