Management of Tongue-Tie Using Diode Laser for Speech Clarity: A Case Report

• Published in: Cureus 2023, Vol.15 (10), p.e46667-e46667
• Main Authors: Dare, Sneha, Shirbhate, Unnati, Bajaj, Pavan
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46667

A congenital condition called ankyloglossia, or tongue tie, is characterized by an excessively short or tight lingual frenum that restricts the tongue's movement and flexibility. Although ankyloglossia, or tongue tie, is not a serious sign, it can cause a variety of challenges, such as difficulty with newborn feeding, speech problems, and many mechanical and social problems since there are restricted tongue movements, such as protrusion of the tongue. It is recommended to get a lingual frenectomy to treat ankyloglossia. A 24-year-old female patient reported to the Department of Periodontics with class II, moderate lingual tie, or ankyloglossia. Under local anesthesia, the lingual frenectomy is performed with a diode laser by placing a hemostat across the frenal attachment at the base of the tongue, and an incision is made. The laser surgery took less time and was more comfortable for the patient because there was less discomfort. There was no postoperative pain or hemorrhage. The above case report can appreciate the normal frenal attachment that is more than 16 mm, and the patient can hold the tip of the tongue and function comfortably. A follow-up visit after three months revealed normal frenal attachment and complete healing of the frenum. This case report demonstrates unequivocally that lingual frenectomy using a diode laser has advantages over traditional procedures in that it reduces or eliminates postoperative pain and minimizes hemorrhage and swelling.