Management of the Maxillary Labial Frenum and Ankyloglossia Using Diode Laser at Single Visit: A Case Report

The frenum is a mucous membrane fold that attaches the lip and the cheek to the alveolar mucosa, the gingiva, and the underlying periosteum. The frenum may jeopardize the gingival health when they are attached too closely to the gingival margin and may compromise the orthodontic result of the midline diastema cases, thus causing a recurrence after the treatment. Ankyloglossia or tongue-tie, refers to an abnormally short lingual frenum, causing problems with eating, speech and sometimes dyspnoea. Hence, it is necessary to perform a frenectomy in most cases. Various methods such as surgery, diathermy, and lasers have been used. In our study we have used Diode Laser for two frenectomies at the same visit, with number of advantages namely, no use of injectable anaesthesia or suture and no bleeding, pain, discomfort and swelling postoperatively with remarkable results at recalled visits for evaluation.