Diode laser: An alternative treatment modality for ankyloglossia

Abstract

Ankyloglossia or tongue-tie refers to an abnormally short lingual frenulum. Ankyloglossia is a recognized but poorly defined condition and has been reported to cause feeding difficulties, dysarthria, dyspnea, and social or mechanical problems in childhood and adolescence. This article reports a simple, safe, and effective way for management of ankyloglossia associated with restricted movement of the tongue. The treatment involved a diode laser for removal of the lingual frenum, which healed uneventfully. A marked improvement in the movement of the tongue was observed at follow-up visits in the treated case.