Clinical Comparison of Diode Laser Assisted “v-Shape Frenectomy” and Conventional Surgical Method as Treatment of Ankyloglossia

Abstract

(1) Background: Ankyloglossia, or tongue-tie is a condition, in which the tip of tongue cannot protrude beyond the lower incisor teeth because of short frenulum linguae, often containing scar tissue. Limitations of movement are the most important clinical symptoms of this condition, together with feeding, speech, and mechanical problems. (2) Methods: the present study included two groups of patients (group A and group B) including, respectively, 29 and 32 patients (61 patients total), aged from 8 to 12 and presenting ankyloglossia classified according to the Kotlow’s classification. The patients in group A underwent a common surgical procedure. For the patients of group B, a diode laser device (K2 mobile laser, Dentium, Korea) with a micro-pulsed wavelength of 980 ± 10 nm and power of 1.2 watts was used. The post-surgical discomfort of the patients (recording the pain perceived immediately after the end of the anesthesia and during the following week, using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) system) and healing characteristics (recorded using the Early Wound Healing Score or EHS) were evaluated. (3) Results: The results shows that the pain in the patients who underwent laser-assisted frenectomy is significantly reduced (p < 0.001) when compared to those who underwent conventional surgical frenectomy, both immediately after surgery (with a reduction in the average NRS of 80.6%) and after the first week (with a reduction in the average NRS of 86.58%). Additionally, in the same patients, an augmentation in the average value of the EHS of 45% was recorded, highlighting significantly (p < 0.001) better quality in the healing of the wound within the 24 h after surgery. Moreover, other advantages observed in the use of laser assisted-frenectomy are the absence of bleeding and, consequently, a clear operative field; no need to use sutures; no need to take painkillers or antibiotics after surgery; and having a faster recovery and less time needed to perform the operation. (4) Conclusions: within the limits of the present study, it seems possible to assert that the laser frenectomy performed using the v-shape technique presents a series of advantages if compared to the conventional surgical method.

Effects of topically administered 0.6% hyaluronic acid on the healing of labial frenectomy in conventional and 940-nm indium gallium arsenide phosphide (InGaAsP) diode laser techniques in pediatric patients: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study

“…Recently, diode lasers have exhibited better outcomes than CO 2 lasers for wound healing, clinical attachment level, gingival recession improvement, and postoperative comfort in labial frenectomy [ 12 ]. The diode laser has a superior advantage in terms of not interacting with hard tissues [ 22 ].…”

Treatment of Ankyloglossia: A Review

“…Surgical and rehabilitative therapy: The study by Tancredi et al [26] highlights the operative and postoperative advantages of treating hypertrophic lingual frenulum using diode laser therapy, evaluating the extent of postoperative healing and differences in pain perception compared with traditional surgical methods.…”

Frenectomy with Classical Technique

“…The choice of frenectomy method using a scalpel and conventional or classical techniques, in this case, is done because this technique is simple, easy to apply, cheap, effective, and efficient (6) . In addition, although it causes the removal of the fibrous structure edges, it does not cause necrosis in the tissue when compared to using laser techniques (16) . Classical techniques are still widely used (14) .…”