Upper Jaw Development After Lingual Laser Frenectomy and Myofuntional Therapy

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ABSTRACT

Aim

Over the years, the role of the lingual frenulum in the development of skeletal structures has been evaluated. However, the effect of short lingual frenulum treatment on bone structures is unclear. We need to investigate the effect of surgery and myofunctional therapy on maxillary development. This could be the rationale to establish an orthodontic interception protocol.

Methods

The case-control study was carried out in the Operative Unit of Pedodontics of the University Dental Clinic, at the Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences of the University of “G. D’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara. The study population consisted in thirty children. The data were collected through anamnesis carried out by qualified health personnel before dental examination. Photos, frenulum length and cast measurements were taken. Student’s t-test statistical analysis was used. Significance was ascertained based on the obtained P value of less than 0.01.

Results

Patients who chosen surgical/logopaedic treatment formed Test group A. Control group B was composed of children who had chosen speech therapy only. We made a comparison of the data between them. Maximum mouth opening clinical parameter, intercanine width (C value) and perpendicular width from the vertex of the incisive papilla to the straight line passing through the cusp tips of the maxillary canines (A value) showed significant variation difference (p < 0,01).

Conclusion

The results confirmed the benefit of laser surgical treatment. The change in parameters related to the anterior palate region showed the power of frenectomy and myofunctional therapy in restoring the tongue’s ability to stimulate bone development. The protocol adopted in the following study could be used in interceptive orthodontics. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the effects on the upper jaw over the long term that have higher sample numbers.

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