Diode Laser Frenectomy: A Torch of Freedom for Ankyloglossia

Cureus. 2024 Apr 15;16(4):e58319. doi: 10.7759/cureus.58319. eCollection 2024 Apr.

Abstract

Ankyloglossia, also known as tongue-tie, is a rare congenital anomaly of the oral cavity that not only causes difficulties in breastfeeding and teeth cleaning but also causes difficulty in speech articulation. Our patient faced difficulty in freely moving his tongue because of the short lingual frenulum wherein laser lingual frenectomy was indicated. The patient was treated successfully with a soft tissue diode laser having a wavelength of 445 nanometers. The use of a low-wavelength diode laser becomes relatively complimentary to standard scalpel surgery because of patient consolation, offers a blood-free area, reduces inflammation and edema, and is less damaging to thermal tissues.

Keywords: ankyloglossia; carbon dioxide laser; diode laser; hypertrophic tissue frenulum; lingual frenectomy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports