The Effectiveness of Lingual Frenectomy and Myofunctional Therapy for Children: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of lingual frenectomy, as a standalone treatment or in association with myofunctional therapy, on the general and functional aspects of six- to 12-year-old children with anomalies in the lingual frenulum.
Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial involved 40 children diagnosed with altered lingual frenulum. Children who received a frenectomy were evaluated 15 and 30 days after the procedure. After 15 days, the children were randomized into two groups: a group that received isotonic tongue exercises (Study Group [SG]) and a group that did not receive isotonic tongue exercises (Control Group [CG]). The outcome evaluator was blinded to group assignment. Statistical tests were used to compare between and within groups (P <0.05).
Results: There were 20 children in each group. SG children improved significantly when compared to CG subjects regarding tongue mobility (P =0.016), maximum mouth opening (MMO; P =0.024), and MMO with the tip of the tongue touching the incisive papilla (P =0.026).
Conclusion: Frenectomy associated with myofunctional therapy benefitted tongue mobility.