Pediatric Frenectomy Outcomes in Speech and Oral Function

Abstract

Restrictive lingual or labial frenula in children may compromise tongue mobility and contribute to difficulties in speech, feeding, mastication, swallowing, and oral hygiene. Scalpel and laser frenectomy are commonly used treatment modalities, but their comparative functional outcomes require further evaluation thus the aim of our study was to compare speech and oral functional outcomes following pediatric frenectomy performed using scalpel versus laser techniques among 00 children aged 3–12 years undergoing frenectomy at a tertiary-care hospital. Patients were divided into a scalpel group (n = 50) and a laser group (n = 50). Intraoperative variables, postoperative pain, wound healing, tongue mobility, speech and oral-function outcomes, parent satisfaction, and recurrence were assessed during follow-up. We have found that, the laser group demonstrated significantly shorter operative time, reduced intraoperative bleeding, and lower suturing requirement than the scalpel group (p<0.001). Postoperative pain scores at 24 hours and day 7, analgesic requirement, and wound-healing scores were significantly better in the laser group (p≤0.001). At 1 month, oral-function scores and parent satisfaction were significantly higher in the laser group (p=0.007 and p<0.001, respectively). Both groups showed improvement in tongue mobility, speech, feeding, mastication, and swallowing; however, between-group differences in these outcomes and 3-month recurrence were not statistically significant. Thus, we have come to conclude that, both techniques were effective; however, laser frenectomy provided superior intraoperative control, reduced postoperative discomfort, improved early healing, and greater parental satisfaction.