20-11-24
What is the frenulum of the tongue?
The frenulum of the tongue is a membrane between the floor of the mouth and the lower surface of the tongue. The functional role of the frenulum is the relative limitation of tongue movements.
What does short frenulum (tongue tie) mean?
Short frenulum is a congenital anatomical problem, where the frenulum is shorter. Depending on the size of the problem, difficulty in moving the tongue occurs, ranging from mild dyskinesia to almost complete immobility (ankyloglossia).
What problems arise with short frenulum?
Short frenulum in infants can cause breastfeeding problems, both in the infant itself (reduced milk intake with possible weight loss), and in the mother (painful nipple). This is because the nipple is compressed with the gums instead of the tongue, due to its fixation to the floor of the mouth.
Older children may have difficulty speaking. Another characteristic feature is the child’s inability to eat an ice cream cone or play a wind instrument.
What is the treatment?
The treatment is only surgical and involves the transection of the frenulum.
How is the operation performed? At what age? Is it painful?
The transection of the frenulum is usually performed under local anesthesia in the doctor’s office. It is a short, safe and painless procedure. In general, the younger the patient, the easier and less painful this operation is. In particular, up to the age of 6 months, that is, before teething, the operation is simpler and faster. In rare cases, in older or uncooperative children, this operation can also be performed in a clinic under anesthesia. The frenulum is cut with special tools or using radio frequencies, depending on the case, without the placement of sutures.
Are there any complications from the operation?
The only, rare complication is the minimal bleeding that can occur during the excision or a short time later. This bleeding is harmless and stops automatically with gentle pressure on the wound.
What should one pay attention to postoperatively?
Antibiotics are not needed postoperatively. It is recommended to start breastfeeding immediately postoperatively to avoid adhesions between the floor of the mouth and the cut frenulum. No follow-up is required, while painkillers, such as paracetamol, are very rarely needed.
Are there other types of frenulum in the oral cavity?
There are still two frenulums in the oral cavity. The frenulum of the upper lip and the frenulum of the lower lip. The frenulum of the upper lip is more often short, resulting in limited mobility of the lip. Also, if the frenulum enters between the two central areas, it can cause the creation of a gap between them. This problem is treated by transecting this frenulum using a similar method as that of the tongue.