BackgroundPartial ankyloglossia is a limitation which restricts the possibility of protrusion and elevation of the tip of the tongue due to the shortness of either the lingual frenulum or the genioglossus muscles or both. The principal objective of this paper is to present our protocol of action for the treatment of ankyloglossia. The specific objectives are to study patients with ankyloglossia treated by the Service of Maxillofacial Surgery and the Service of Speech Therapy of our pediatric Hospital, describe the diagnostic procedures, the pre-surgical intervention, the surgical technique undertaken and the post-surgical rehabilitation taking into account the level of collaboration of the patients, and finally, describe the surgical complications and the referral of patients.Material and MethodsThis is a descriptive study of healthy patients, without any diagnosis of syndrome, ranging between 4 and 14 years that have been surgically treated and rehabilitated post-surgery within a period of 2 years.Results101 frenectomies and lingual plasties have been performed and patients have been treated following the protocol of action that we hereby present. After the surgical intervention, the degree of ankyloglossia has been improved, considering correction in 29 (28%) of the patients (95% CI: 20%, 38%), reaching, with the post-surgical orofacial rehabilitation, a correction of 97 (96%) of the participants (95% CI: 90%, 98%).ConclusionsThe chosen surgical technique for moderate-severe ankyloglossia in our centre is the frenectomy and lingual plasty. The myofunctional training begins one week before the surgical intervention so that the patients learn the exercises without pain. Key words:Ankyloglossia, tongue-tie, lingual frenum.

The problems of suction in newborns give rise to multiple consequences for both the mother and the newborn. The objective of this paper is to present a case of ankyloglossia (“tongue-tie”) and the suction problems that were treated by a multidisciplinary team. The subject is a 17-day-old male patient, with ankyloglossia and suction problems during breastfeeding (pain in the breastfeeding mother, poor weight gain, and long breastfeeds). The patient followed the circuit established in our centre between the services of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Breastfeeding and Speech Therapy and Orofacial Rehabilitation (CELERE). The evolution following the breastfeeding sessions, the myofunctional stimulation, and the lingual frenotomy was very favourable, thereby solving the suction problems that the newborn presented. All our patients receive breastfeeding sessions and myofunctional therapy as treatment. We know that a frenotomy is not always necessary and we believe that the stimulation of sucking before and after the surgical intervention is important in order to improve the final result.

Intraosseous arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in the head and neck region are uncommon. There are several types and they can have a wide range of clinical presentations. Depending on the blood flow through the AVM, the treatment may be challenging for the attending team and may lead to life-threatening hemorrhages. A clinical case report is presented. A 9-year-old girl, seen for gingival bleeding during oral hygiene, was found to have a high-flow AVM located within and around the mandible. Two-stage treatment consisted of intra-arterial embolization followed by intraoral injection of a sclerosing agent 8 weeks later. At the 8-year follow-up, imaging study showed no evidence of recurrent lesion inside or outside the bone. The final outcome is a correct occlusion with a symmetric facial result. This case shows that conservative treatment may be the first treatment option mostly in children. Arteriography and transcortical injection were enough to control the AVM.

Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a rare autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder in wich, the bone quality and density is affected. OI includes some metabolic disorders and have a wide range of clinical presentations. In Osteogenesis Imperfecta bone has a very low density and it is a disorder currently treated with bisphosphonates. Quality and quantity of bone is important for establishment of osseointegration in dental implants. There are few reported cases in the literature. This is a case report of a 61 year-old man with grade IV OI, rehabilitated with implant-supported fixed prostheses in the posterior right and left mandible, whithout bone grafts. At the 4-year follow-up, clinical and imaging study showed no evidence of pathology in the peri-implant tissues. The final outcome is a correct occlusion and masticatory function. This case shows that dental implants may be a treatment option in this patients, however there is still quite limited scientific evidence. Key words:Osteogenesis imperfecta, osteoporotic bone, dental implants, bone fragility, bisphosphonates, drilling technique.