Tongue and lip frenulum plastic surgery

Common problems with the frenulum of the tongue in children

The frenulum of the tongue is directly responsible for the development of speech, and if it is short, then at the age of 5-6 the child will have diction defects (most often it is the failure to pronounce r, l and sibilants). Insufficient mobility of the tongue also causes problems with the clarity of speech. In addition, in some cases, a short frenulum affects the development of the lower jaw and is the cause of tooth displacement and gum disease.

Symptoms of a short frenulum of the tongue in a child

The first symptoms of a short frenulum of the tongue become noticeable at the very beginning of life, because it is difficult for the baby to hold the nipple and suck. If the child, despite a short bridle, does not have critical problems with breastfeeding, the need for plastic surgery becomes obvious in the future. In particular, the symptoms of a short frenulum of the tongue are as follows:

• diction defects that persist at the age of 5-6 years;
• the child cannot fully stick out the tongue or it hurts to do so;
• when the child sticks out the tongue, its tip immediately bends down;
• the child cannot touch the palate with his tongue.

In these cases, it is worth bringing the child to a maxillofacial surgeon, who will assess the need for frenum plastic surgery.

Indications and contraindications for cutting the frenulum of the tongue in children

At the Sirius-Dent clinic, we perform plastic surgery of the frenulum of the tongue under sedation, because this operation, although not difficult in itself, requires special care and precision from the surgeon, and complete immobility from the patient. The situation is additionally complicated by a large number of small vessels, which increases the risk of bleeding. Accordingly, the general surgical contraindications to trimming the frenulum of the tongue are:

• acute infectious disease;
• exacerbation of a chronic disease;
• inflammation in the oral cavity;
• blood coagulation disorders.

The indication for trimming the frenulum of the tongue is the actual presence of pathology, which was discovered by parents, a pediatrician or a speech therapist.

Types of plasty of the frenulum of the tongue in children

There are two possible ways to cut the frenulum of the tongue: the first one involves horizontal dissection of the frenulum and stretching the incision into a vertical one followed by applying a suture, and the second is a standard wedge incision (this is how the frenulum is dissected, in particular, for babies in maternity hospitals).

How to cut the frenulum of the tongue in children

Tongue frenulum plastic surgery requires a comprehensive approach, thanks to which it will pass without relapse. It is necessary not only to make a horizontal incision, stretch it and sew it vertically, thereby lengthening the frenum, but also to remove collagen fibers and connective tissue. The child will not feel pain even under local anesthesia, but there may be difficulties in persuading her to sit still for a long time and cooperate with the surgeon. The consequence of this is the desire to perform the operation as soon as possible, which often leads to complications after trimming the frenulum of the tongue. Therefore, it is best to operate on a child under sedation, when he is asleep and does not prevent the doctor from unhurriedly and carefully reshaping the frenulum.

The recovery period after plasty of the frenulum of the tongue in children

Children usually tolerate tongue frenulum plastic surgery well. For the first few days, it is advisable not to feed the child spicy, sour, fried and solid food. Painful sensations are possible during the conversation, so speaking calmly will not hurt. It is also important to ensure that the child does not damage the seam by stretching it. At the same time, it is not necessary to remove the seam in the future – it is self-absorbing.

When the mucous membrane is restored, you can start working with a speech therapist on solving problems with diction.

If you want to be sure that frenulum plastic surgery will be performed with high quality and stress-free for the child, contact us at the Sirius-Dent clinic.