Management of ankyloglossia using electrosurgery: A case series

Abstract

Ankyloglossia, or tongue tie, is a congenital oral anomaly with short, tight and thick lingual frenum which may restrict mobility of tongue and may subsequently lead to a range of problems such as difficulties in breast feeding during infancy, difficulty in mastication, speech impairment, poor oral hygiene, malocclusion, behaviour problems during childhood, adolescence and even adulthood. In this case series, four adult patients with ankyloglossia were treated by performing lingual frenectomy using electrosurgery followed by post-operative recall and speech therapy. A marked improvement in tongue movement and speech was observed at follow-up visits in all the treated cases. Electrosurgery proved to be a safe, reliable, effective and patient-friendly alternative treatment option for ankyloglossia.

Management of Tongue-Tie Using Conventional Technique for Speech Clarity and Correcting Malocclusion: A Case Report

“…However, some tissue studies show that when compared with laser and electrocautery, the scalpel technique shows less tissue injury, inflammation, and thermal damage [ 14 ]. Also, laser therapy is more expensive than electrosurgical and conventional techniques [ 5 ].…”

“…The frenum can be positioned at or near the tip of the tongue and held tightly against the margins of the gingiva in the lower anterior teeth. There is a correlation between frenal pull and excessive muscle attachment and gingival tissue recession [ 5 ]. The buccal musculature constricts against the tongue's outward pressure on the teeth.…”

“…Altered tongue position can affect mandible position as the tongue cannot be lifted upward, hence resulting in tongue thrust and open bite [ 4 ]. Ankyloglossia, characterized by restricted tongue mobility, can lead to feeding difficulties, speech issues, and malocclusion [ 5 , 6 ].…”