Efficacy of Surgical Laser Diode Therapy in the Management of Labial and Lingual Frenectomy

Abstract

A frenum, a triangle-shaped fold of tissue connects the lip, tongue and buccal musculature to the alveolar bone in the oral cavity. Any abnormalities in the size and location of the frenum can cause functional and esthetic problems which require surgical excision. Frenectomy can be accomplished either by the routine scalpel technique, or by using lasers such diode laser. The 1st case is an 8-year-old healthy boy with the chief complaint of spacing between his upper front teeth and a palatoversion of the left central incisor. Intraoral clinical examination revealed the presence of midline diastema (1 mm) with high, fibrous labial frenal attachment. The 2nd case is a 6-year-old boy consulted with the complaint of difficulty in speech associated to the limitations of the lingual movements. Intraoral examination revealed partial ankyloglossia. The 2 cases, the frenectomy was then made with 980 nm diode laser.