Management of Ankyloglossia (Tongue-Tie) - Review and Report of Two Cases

Abstract

Ankyloglossia or tongue-tie is a congenital anomaly characterized by an abnormally short lingual frenum, which restricts mobility of the tongue. Though ankyloglossia is not a serious condition, it may lead to various problems including infant feeding difficulties, speech disorders, and various mechanical and social issues related to the inability of the tongue to protrude. Hence, management of ankyloglossia should be done irrespective of age, considering the risk benifit evaluation. For many years, the subject of ankyloglossia has been controversial, with practitioners of many specialties having widely different views regarding its significance and management. This case series is about two cases of ankyloglossia subjected to surgical correction by frenectomy procedure. One case was treated with electrocautery and one case with diode laser. Postoperative follow-ups were done for 1 week and 1 month, and healing was compared with the available literature. Manipulation of tissues was better in laser and electrocautery techniques when compared with conventional techniques. This case series indicates that laser and electrocautery treatment used for frenectomy operations provides better patient perception in terms of postoperative pain and function. Considering the above advantages, when used correctly, the laser and electrocautery treatment offers a safe, effective, acceptable, and impressive alternative for lingual frenectomy.