Tongue frenulum cutting - what is it?
Plastic surgery of the lingual frenulum can be performed at different ages, but it is mainly performed on newborn children, since disruption of the formation of the mucosal fold under the tongue causes a number of functional disorders.
The procedure for trimming the frenulum of the tongue is a low-traumatic surgical procedure performed by a dentist. The frenulum of the tongue is a fold of the oral mucosa that stretches in the shape of an arc from the central point of the tongue to the middle of the lower dentition at the base of the gums. The main function of the frenulum is to attach the tongue to the lower part of the mouth.
If there are deviations in the location or length of the fold, the movement of the tongue will be impaired, resulting in incomplete functionality. The purpose of the operation is to increase the length or correct the position of the frenulum.
Principles of doing exercises
The “painter” activity is performed exclusively when the child is in a good mood, since otherwise he will not be diligent enough. The exercise is based on the principle of running the tip of the tongue along the surface of the palate, moving away from the teeth, gradually moving towards the throat area.
Exercises - description with pictures
To involve the child in performing the exercise, it can be accompanied by reading poems.
The essence of the “drums” exercise is to repeatedly pronounce the letter D. It is necessary to ensure that its pronunciation is as clear as possible. The “reach your nose” exercise involves the process of pulling the tip of the tongue towards the nose and then lowering it towards the upper lip. When performing this complex, you need to carefully ensure that during the execution the jaw is immobilized, and the tongue does not shrink during execution.
Exercise Accordion effectively stretches the frenulum of the tongue
The “swing” exercise is performed by alternately touching the teeth of the upper and lower jaw with the tip of the tongue, provided they are motionless.
The developmental exercise “football” consists of alternately moving the tongue from one cheek to the other, thereby simulating the movement of a soccer ball across the field. Performed with a wide open mouth and a smile.
Description of 3 types of exercises
The “kitten” exercise, according to the experience of specialists, is the most popular and popular among children. The essence of this procedure is that the child needs to use his tongue to lick from a plate or saucer a treat that has been previously placed on it, which can be ice cream, sour cream or jam.
Pronouncing difficult words as a type of exercise for the frenulum
The horse exercise is performed by clicking the tongue to produce a sound similar to the sound of a horse.
When performing an exercise for stretching the frenulum of the tongue called “Mushroom”, the position of the tongue should resemble a mushroom cap, and the frenulum should resemble a stalk. We should not forget about the need to carry out all such procedures with a smile on your face.
Articulation gymnastics for the short frenulum - 3 more exercises
Another popular and effective exercise for resolving the problem of a short frenulum is a procedure called the “chin touch.” It is this exercise, the essence of which is the child’s attempts to reach his own chin with the tip of his tongue, that helps to effectively stretch the frenulum to optimal levels.
Exercise for the frenulum “Blowing soap bubbles” - fun and useful
It is important to remember that each exercise is unique in nature and has a specific impact. That is why, performing all the exercises of the complex without exception must be approached with a certain responsibility, since incorrect execution of tasks will not only not lead to the desired results, but can also cause the development of other problems with the speech apparatus, as well as the oral cavity.
A complete description of all procedures can be found on specialized portals, as well as by seeking help from speech therapists and special education teachers.
Exercise Pancake - basic for stretching the tongue
Indications for the procedure
For newborn children, cutting the frenulum of the tongue is recommended quite often. A pediatrician or dentist can identify the pathology. In most cases, disorders are detected already in the first months of a child’s life. At the same time, the doctor always takes into account the individual characteristics of the structure and position of the mucous fold.
If we are talking about a newborn baby, then plastic surgery is prescribed in the case of obvious pathology in the formation of the frenulum, or difficulties with breastfeeding. The baby may have difficulty latching on to the nipple or pacifier and difficulty sucking on the breast or bottle.
Untimely plastic surgery may subsequently lead to difficulties with chewing food, bite formation, and diction problems. In older age, recommendations for surgical treatment can be given by a speech therapist or orthodontist.
Contraindications
Tongue frenuloplasty in newborns does not involve major surgical intervention, so the operation is considered safe. In addition, the procedure is painless and does not require anesthesia. However, given that after cutting a short fold of mucosa, a small wound still forms, there are temporary restrictions on manipulation related to the child’s health condition.
Temporary contraindications:
- inflammatory diseases;
- infectious diseases;
- immunodeficiency pathologies;
- acute respiratory viral or bacterial infections.
If there are contraindications for health reasons, it is advisable to postpone the operation until complete recovery.
Preparing for surgery
Trimming the frenulum is a fairly simple operation that does not require special preparatory measures. Most often, the following procedures need to be performed before surgery:
- prepare a general blood test;
- check the blood for clotting (the so-called hemosyndrome test);
- do fluorography.
Carrying out an operation in infancy is easier for a child to tolerate due to the fact that he does not understand and does not remember what is happening around him.
At the age of one year, surgery is quite stressful for a baby, so it is very important to prepare him for this procedure in advance.
This requires psychological support from parents, encouragement and an explanation of the importance of the moment. To prevent your child from being capricious, you can take his favorite toys or a tablet with cartoons with him.
It is very important to ensure that the child is fed before the procedure, since after it you cannot eat for two hours.
Features of the procedure
Plastic surgery of the frenulum of the tongue involves cutting it with a scalpel or surgical scissors. After cutting the fold of the mucous membrane in a newborn, the tissue immediately stretches and lengthens after healing. When the operation is performed at the age of 3–5 years, the process of stretching the frenulum is more complex. To increase the length of the fold and prevent the formation of scars, the child will need to perform special exercises.
In Martinka dentistry, plastic surgery of the frenulum of the tongue and lip is performed not only by the classical, but also by the modern method using a laser. The use of laser equipment eliminates the risk of infection and bleeding. The laser has an antiseptic effect and instantly seals the vessels; moreover, during the operation there is no contact of the instrument with the tissues of the oral cavity. Laser surgery involves contraindications and is only allowed for children over 1 year of age.
For newborn children, tongue frenuloplasty can be performed without anesthesia. In children from 3 months of age, the folds of the mucous membrane thicken, which suggests discomfort and minor pain during the operation, so cutting the frenulum is done with local anesthesia. Sedation is used only in extreme cases, if the child has complex illnesses or increased anxiety.
How to do speech therapy massage for short tongue frenulum in children?
A special massage helps to lengthen the hyoid ligament very effectively. The child can do it independently or with the help of parents.
Massage to stretch the hyoid ligament:
- Using your thumb and index finger, you need to grab the tip of your tongue and lift it up. The mouth should be open during the massage. Using the fingers of the other hand, you need to move along the frenulum from bottom to top with stretching movements, as if pulling it out.
- The index and middle fingers should be placed under the tongue so that the frenulum is between them. Use your thumb to press on the front of the tongue and make outward lengthening movements. During such manipulation, the index and middle fingers should be motionless.
- The massage can be performed by simply stretching the tongue in different directions. Grasping the tip, carefully pull the tongue out.
Stages of the procedure
Trimming a short frenulum, despite the lack of complexity of the procedure, should be performed by a qualified specialist and in a medical facility. Patients do not require hospitalization. The operation takes no more than 10 minutes. Immediately after completion of the plastic surgery, the child is sent home. It is not recommended to feed the baby in the first two hours. Young children are allowed to drink water.
Stages of plastic surgery of the frenulum of the tongue.
- Preparation. The doctor asks parents for complaints, performs an examination and, if necessary, gives recommendations on preparation for the procedure.
- Operation. Administration of anesthesia, antiseptic treatment of the oral cavity, trimming of the frenulum.
In newborns, the integrity of the mucous membrane is restored in 1–3 days. The child may be restless on the first day. Difficulties with feeding cannot be ruled out, but already on the second day, babies begin to correctly take the breast or bottle nipple, which caused difficulties previously. Parents are advised to give the baby water after each feeding to avoid the accumulation of formula or milk in the mouth and the subsequent development of infection. Also, the mother must maintain breast hygiene and sterilize bottles.
results
The main goal of tongue frenuloplasty is to prevent tongue dysfunction that occurs subsequently. If you do not trim the folds of mucous membrane, then in the future the child may have difficulties with eating, diction and lip movements.
Don't be afraid of surgery. This is a simple procedure that takes a few minutes, and the cutting of the short frenulum itself takes place in a few seconds. Since the mucous membrane in children is still too thin, the child does not feel pain. Minor bleeding goes away quickly and does not pose any danger.
The help of a qualified dentist is an absolute guarantee of high-quality results and the absence of complications.
Features of sound production in children with a short frenulum
In the process of carrying out exercises and massage to stretch the hyoid frenulum, certain sounds are made:
- Sounds like [ch], [l], [sch], [d], [t] should be started when the frenulum has not yet fully stretched.
- The sounds [р], [ш], [ж] - these letters can be taught to children to pronounce after the frenulum is fully stretched. All other sounds are pronounced by the child without complications.
While performing all the exercises, remember that they need to be performed:
- regularly;
- with maximum efficiency;
- gradually increasing the time and amount of exercise.
As soon as you notice that your child’s pronunciation of sounds is incorrect or he cannot reach the palate with his tongue, you should immediately begin to perform the exercises described above. The sooner you start classes, the faster and easier it will be to achieve results. Stretching the frenulum is an unpleasant and even slightly painful procedure for the child. There is no need to expect great results after two or three days of training; you should be patient and gradually move towards your goal.
