Successful rehabilitation of a child patient with ankyloglossia using the diode laser of wavelength 808 nm and speech therapy

Abstract

Ankyloglossia is an abnormal congenital condition of the tongue characterized by abnormal attachment of lingual frenum or shorter lingual frenulum. Although various conventional surgical modalities and lasers for frenectomy has been described in literature, only few articles have been reported in the existing literature regarding the diode laser of 808 nm wavelength for frenectomy procedure in pediatric patient. Hence, the current article describes the clinical case report of successful and effective treatment of ankyloglossia using soft-tissue diode laser of 808 nm wavelength with minimally invasive dentistry approach in a 10-year-old male pediatric patient. In addition, the tongue-tie was clinically evaluated using the Hazelbaker Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function. Diode lasers can be used as a safe alternative surgical tool for managing tongue-tie with minimally invasive dentistry approach and also for alleviating the dental anxiety in pediatric patients.