Frenulectomy with Diode Laser Technology in Paeditric Patients: Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluations. Randomized Double- Blind Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Ankyloglossia is an anatomical alteration of the frenulum length, volume, compactness, and insertion. It can lead to alterations in the ability to swallow and chewing, and dysfunctional coordination amongst cranio-facial muscles; these alterations are often responsible for respiratory alterations, skeletal malocclusions and dyslalia or the delay of speech. The aim of this study is to estimate the efficacy of lingual frenulectomy with diode-laser technology through a qualitative and quantitative evaluation. Methods: One hundred and twenty-five pediatric patients were recruited: 100 with a lingual pathological frenulum were randomly divided into four operating groups; the other 25 with a borderline pathological frenulum were recruited as a control group. Each patient was included in a follow-up program (T0-T1-T2-T3-T4) for a quantitative and qualitative evaluation: the first through an accurate measurement of Kotlow’s free tongue measurement (≥16), Mouth Opening with Tongue Tip to incisive papilla (MOTTIP), Maximal Intercisal Mouth Opening (MIO) and Protrusion; and the second using the Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function (ATLFF), Bristol Tongue Assessment Tool (BTAT), and grade of tongue functionality. Results: The increase of the aforementioned quantitative parameters was circa 10 mm, and all patients reacquired full functionality of the tongue. Conclusions: Diode-laser technology is efficient and innovative in the treatment of pathological lingual frenulums.

1. Introduction

The lingual frenulum is formed from the oral mucosa and connective tissues within 22 weeks of gestation; at the time of its formation, any alteration of embryological processes could cause changes in its anatomical structure [1]. The anatomy of the lingual frenulum is poorly described in textbooks (Sinnatamby and Last [2]; Standring [3]); however, a recent study illustrated how it develops from concurrent muscular and mucous components [4]. Currently, there are no publications providing relevant additional details on the physiological morphology. Therefore, it is hard to understand how pathological variables can determine functional limitations of the tongue in children and young patients [5]. Important consequences of the functional limitation of the tongue can occur both in new-borns and during growth. e.g., breastfeeding, breathing complications, the phenomenon of asphyxiation, and food rejection [6,7,8] are common in the former group; in the latter, typical consequences are dyslalia and the delay of speech [9,10,11]. The functional limitations produce changes in swallowing and chewing, preventing the correct coordination of muscles, leading to a number of problems, e.g., cleft palate and cleft lip [12,13], oral respiration [14] and forward tongue positioning with possible malocclusions [15,16]. Therefore, different medical professionals (pediatrician, oral surgeon, orthodontist and speech therapist) are required to treat this condition, which has a prevalence rate of 4% to 10% [17] among infants, with a ratio between male and female of 2:1 [18]; ethnicity is not a risk factor [7,19]. The diagnosis of the pathological lingual frenulum is challenging, requiring the use of different parameters. There are both qualitative scales (Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function ATLFF [20], Bristol Tongue Assessment Tool BTAT [21], grade of tongue’s functionality [22]) and quantitative evaluations: Kotlow’s free tongue measurement (normal ≥16 mm) [23], Mouth Opening with Tongue Tip to incisive papilla (MOTTIP, normal ≥23 mm) [24], Maximal Intercisal Mouth Opening (MIO normal ≥35 mm) [25]. The approach of treatment is multidisciplinary, based on the alterations which are present. Oral myofunctional therapy is sufficient in borderline cases; however, surgery is indispensable under the other mentioned pathological circumstances. There are three possible surgical procedures to resolve a pathological lingual frenulum: traditional with scalpel, electrosurgery, and laser surgery. The latter presents several advantages [26]: disinfection, precise incisions, minimal damage to adjacent tissues, hemostatic effect, better postoperative progress [27], no need for sutures, and a reduction of the dose of local anesthetic [27,28]. These advantages are more important for pediatric patients than for adults, since children experience increased anxiety due to the surgical intervention experience [29].

In the literature, different studies have demonstrated the benefits of the use of lasers, but most of them were not randomized, high-quality studies [30], nor did they evaluate the quantitative postoperative improvement of the frenulum. Therefore, the aim of our clinical, randomized, double- blind study was to determine the increment (in millimeters) and postsurgical qualitative improvement following the use of diode laser technology, through the application of qualitative scales and the Quick Tongue Tie Assessment Tool^®.

2. Materials and Methods

This study conforms to the European Union rules on good clinical practice, according to the declaration of Helsinki. A clinical, randomized, double-blind study was conducted to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative increment of the aforementioned parameters (Kotlow, MOTTIP, MIO, Protrusion) post frenulectomy with diode-laser technology. One hundred and twenty-five patients were recruited by the Maxillo-Facial Department, Pediatric Dentistry, University of Rome “Sapienza”, from May 2018 to August 2019; 66 male (52.6%) and 59 female (47.4%); with an average age of 8 years (M = 8.37; DS = 2.31). The inclusion criteria were: between 4–14 years of age, pathological lingual frenulum (Kotlow with a length ≤16 mm and lack of tongue functionality), no previous frenulectomy/frenulotomy intervention, no systemic diseases, no unhealthy habits, no temporomandibular disorders, or signed informed consent by the legal guardian of each subject. The exclusion criteria were: absolute or relative contraindication to local anesthesia, no pathological frenulum (Kotlow with a length ≥16mm and good function of tongue), presence of systemic disease, presence of unhealthy habits, temporomandibular disorders, or failure to provide informed consent. The device used was set up to follow the protocol of study (

Table 1. Setting of the device.

Name	Doctor Smile®(Wiser Laser Evolution)
Wavelength	980 nm
Highest output power	7- pulsed Watts
Modality of pulse	Variable pulse wave
Frequency	Up to 25 Hz
Medical class/Laser	B/4
Tissue Optimized Pulsing	Adjustable power for every type of soft tissue
Diameter fiber	300 µm
Duration of intervention	300 sec
Number of session	Single surgery session
Production site	Italy-Brendola (VI)

).

2.1. Dimensions of Sample and Randomization: Generation of Sequences

The patients were randomly divided in four pre-operative groups (A, B, C, D) through an algorithm generated by a computer; a fifth group (E) was composed of case-control patients, in which subjects had a borderline pathological frenulum, and therapy was only with myofunctional exercise. In conformity with this clinical, randomized, double-blind study, neither the oral surgeon nor the patient were aware of the group to which they had been assigned. A different dental practitioner performed the follow-up for qualitative evaluations and quantitative measurements of Kotlow, MOTTIP, MIO, and distance between the tip of the protruded tongue and the incisal margin (Protrusion) in both the operating groups and the control group. The analysis of data was conducted with the statistical program SPSS^® (version 24.0). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures was used to evaluate whether there were modifications of single parameters in the different groups of subjects. A second ANOVA was carried out among the subjects to evaluate whether there were significant increases in the different groups.

2.2. Sample Size Calculation

The sample size calculation was performed through G-Power analysis. The minimum number of patients was 25 for each group, with an α error of 0.05 and power of 80%, (

Table 2. Summary of data for each group.

	Number of Patients	Gauze	Speech Therapy
Group A (GA)	25	Yes	Yes
Group B (GB)	25	No	Yes
Group C (GC)	25	Yes	No
Group D (GD)	25	No	No
Group E (GE)	25	No, Control-group	No, Control-group

).

The surgical protocol followed was:

1. One week before the operation, the oral surgeon verbally explained functional exercises to all patients and legal guardians; for oral myofunctional therapy, the protocol explained in a study of Amat et al. [22] was followed

2. The oral surgeon performed the operation with the use of local anesthesia, stabilizing the tongue using hemostatic forceps and cutting with a diode laser, the settings of which are provided above. In groups A and C, a sterile iodoformic gauze (length 3 cm, rolled up in a rotund way) was affixed with a suture (4.0 Vicryl^®); the gauze was added to determine whether it it could provide a reduction in reattachment, i.e., minor relapse. It was removed by the oral surgeon four days after the operation.

3. In groups A and B, speech therapy was prescribed (with the same therapist) in addition to functional exercise [22]. While in the latter case, all the exercises cause simultaneous contractions of the muscles both of the tongue and perioral area, the role of the therapist, instead, was to individualize the exercises for each patient, starting to mobilize the tongue and then adding movements for the perioral muscles. As for the gauze, the therapy was added to determine whether it could lead to a reduction in reattachment, i.e., a minor relapse.

4. Each patient received a diary which contained a representation of the prescribed myofunctional exercises [22] and the numerical rating scale (NRS) necessary to evaluate the pain 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 14 days and 28 days after the operation. The patients of the control group had a diary with only an explanation of the functional exercises to be followed three times a day for one month.

All patients were included in follow-up programs (T0, T1, T2, T3, and T4, with 7 days of difference amongst them) to evaluate the aforementioned parameters with a disposable instrument, the Quick Tongue Tie Assessment Tool^® (QTT). In order not to modify the repeated measurements, the patients were positioned with a natural head posture and with the eyes focused on a point in the distance at eye level.

3. Results

The results, expressed in mm (

Table 3. Quantitative results of parameters and NRS evaluation.

Group		Kotlow		MOTTIP		MIO		Protrusion		NRS
		T0	T4	T0	T4	T0	T4	T0	T4	24 H	30 D
A	Average	17.5	26.5	19.7	23	38	44.1	17.6	21	6.8	0
	Std deviation	2.26	3.9	5.6	4.52	5.6	4.9	2.7	5.8	1.9	0
	Minimum	15	20	15	17	35	37	15	14	4	0
	Maximum	20	32	31	30	50	50	22	32	10	0
B	Average	14	24.8	15.1	23.5	39.6	43.5	14	21	2.9	0
	Std deviation	2.9	3.4	6.7	4.2	4.6	4.0	5.1	5.4	2.1	0
	Minimum	10	21	5	15	35	40	7	15	0	0
	Maximum	18	30	25	30	50	50	21	30	6	0
C	Average	15.3	23.7	14.3	23.7	36	40	16	21.3	7.1	0
	Std deviation	4.27	3.90	5.6	6.6	4.5	4.2	5.8	6.7	2.6	0
	Minimum	10	17	9	15	27	30	4.2	6.5	2	0
	Maximum	20	28	25	35	40	43	25	30	10	0
D	Average	16.3	27.5	17.9	29	39.2	45.7	18.4	23.3	6.0	0
	Std deviation	4.0	4.3	6.6	6.9	3.9	5.7	4.2	6.5	2.8	1.2
	Minimum	10	20	10	17	35	40	12	16	2	0
	Maximum	21	33	25	35	45	55	25	35	9	3
E	Average	20.9	25.9	22.6	26.1	40.3	44.3	20.4	23.5	control.g	control.g
	Std deviation	3.6	2.6	5.7	5.5	5.4	4.6	4.3	4.1
	Minimum	15	23	15	15	35	40	14	17
	Maximum	30	31	32	36	45	55	25	30

), obtained from all the dependent variables from T0 to T4 (for each p < 0.001) are shown below.

Viewing the results in a bullet-point list, we observe the following:

Time 0: day of intervention.

Time 1: there were not any significant differences in Kotlow. MOTTIP had a better trend of growth in GD than in GC; there was no a significant difference in the other groups. MIO in GB, GD and GE obtained a score superior to GC; GA is an intermediate position. The value of Protrusion was greater in GE than in the other groups.

Time 2: there were no significant differences in Kotlow. MOTTIP had a trend of growth better in GD and GE compared to GB and GA; there was no significant difference in the other groups. MIO in GC obtained a lower score than the other groups. The value of Protrusion was greater in GD and GE in comparison to the other groups.

Time 3: the scores of Kotlow and MOTTIP were superior in GD than in the other groups. MIO in GC obtained a lower score than the other groups. In protrusion, there was no significant difference.

Time 4: the score of Kotlow was superior in GD compared to GC; there was no significant difference in the other groups. MOTTIP had a better trend of growth in GD than in the other groups. MIO in GC obtained a lower score than the other groups. There was no significant difference in Protrusion.

From the beginning of treatment (Figure 1 and Figure 2) to the end (Figure 2 and Figure 3): for Kotlow, the increase was more or less the same in all the groups, except for the control group; for MOTTIP, the largest increases were observed in GB, GC, and GD; for MIO, the increase was significant in all groups except for GC; the increase of Protrusion was similar in all groups. The perception of pain at T0 was lower in GB than in the other groups; at T4, the score was 0 in all the groups. According to the results, it was possible to understand how the presence of gauze and speech therapy did not change the final outcome; therefore, the application of gauze to avoid a possible relapse is not recommended, and speech therapy is advisable only when the child shows unhealthy habits or language problems. The oral myofunction exercises (according the aforementioned protocol [22]) is essential to achieve a full upswing of lingual functionality.

Clinical Case

4. Discussion

Through the use of this protocol, the efficacy of the diode laser technique was demonstrated for lingual frenulectomies in pediatric patients; this technique makes it possible to quantitatively increase the aforementioned parameters until physiological values are reached, bringing about the acquisition of full lingual functionality with minor anxiety and pain. Several studies have performed millimetrical evaluations to determine the best methods for the correct diagnosis of ankyloglossia [23,24,25], but none of them has considered the different pre- and post- operative increases, nor have they examined the use of different type of lasers. Marchesan et al. presented a quantitative method to classify the pathological lingual frenulum with no consideration of improvement after surgical intervention [31]. Yoon et al. [25] employed the same millimetrical device used in our study (QTT)^®, but the aim of their study was to validate millimetrical parameters as an initial screening tool to asses for restrictions in tongue mobility. However, in our study, millimetrical evaluation was essential not only for the screening, but also to verify the efficacy of diode laser technology in the improvement of tongue mobility after surgical intervention.

In this way, an unexpected result of this study was the observed continuous improvement in the first month after surgery; our analysis demonstrates how the increase from T0 to T1, T2, T3 and T4 is gradual in relation to the better functionality of the tongue. A similar correlation was noted in a study by Ghaheri BA et al. [32], in which enhancement after frenulectomy occurred early (1 week postoperatively), and continued to improve one month thereafter; both infants with classic anterior tongue-tie and less obvious posterior tongue-tie showed improvements, proving the superiority of the laser-technique. Nagate Raghavendra Reddy et al. [33] reported on five clinical cases of short lingual frenulum; three of them were treated with electrocautery therapy, one with a diode laser and the last one with a traditional surgical technique (scalpel 15c). After follow-ups at 7 and 30 days, a better management of tissues was observed in cases treated with laser or electrocautery than with traditional surgical techniques. In the latter case, the pain and swelling were also superior. This study observed how the use of laser for the treatment of frenulectomy can be considered safe and reliable; reduced pain and better function of the tongue are guaranteed after surgery. Derikvand N et al. [34] also explained several advantages of laser technology, demonstrating how it supports healing and reduces postoperative complications. Barot VJ et al. [35] reported very positive results after a frenulectomy with laser technology (Wavelength: 810 nm, Diameter fiber: 200 μm, used in direct contact with the tissue, Power 2W, continuous modality and focused ray). Through this protocol, the authors achieved complete healing, a >16-mm increase of tongue mobility, and an improvement of speech after therapy. Laser-assisted lingual frenectomies are the simplest, safest, and least traumatic of all the treatment modalities available, with the most promising results in minimally invasive dentistry. With the use of diode lasers, it is also possible to obtain a reduction in operative times and gain easier access to the surgical site; indeed, the lack of traditional surgical instruments and the localized cauterization allow bloodless surgery. Marina Azevedo Junqueira et al. [36] confirmed how it is possible to reach the bottom of the lingual muscle with the use of a laser; they affirmed the superiority of the technique, compared to other approaches. This technology is more acceptable for children, yielding with shorter operative times, hemostasis, and no need for local anesthesia.

Regarding orofacial myofunctional disorders, it was demonstrated how the correct function of the tongue is essential for the neuromuscular harmony of the whole maxillo-facial area [37]. A short lingual frenulum has a critical impact on the development of the orofacial complex [38]; for this reason, frenulectomies associated with the orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) do not allow the tissue to reattach postoperatively [39]. The value of OMT was also demonstrated in a study by Tecco et al. [40]; the study showed the improvement in the oral muscles in subjects following an OMT after a lingual frenulectomy using electromyography. It is recommended that pediatric patients start myofacial rehabilitation before the surgical operation (i.e., one week before); in this way, they can learn to perform the exercises without pain. Our study applied orofacial myofunctional therapy based upon a protocol described by Amat et al. [22]. The use of the NRS pain scale allows for easier identification of the different intensities of pain compared to other scales, that have the tendency to categorize pain as simply none, light, moderate or severe. A study by Pagé MG et al. [41] showed that with the NRS, it’s possible to represent the continuity of pain, which is appropriate for children between 8 and 18 years of age. The authors underlined how important it is that the child or teenager understand the correct use of this scale in order to assign a number to the intensity of their pain. However, due to the subjectivity of pain, there is no tool which gives a precise value; for this reason further studies are required to find more a precise method

In accordance with several different articles underlining the advantages of the use of lasers, our study demonstrated how after a frenulectomy, and following the oral myofunctional protocol, there was an approximate increase of 10 mm (Kotlow and Protrusion) and 5 mm (MIO and MOTTIP). Using the Quick Tongue Tie Assessment Tool^®, a complete improvement of physiological values was observed in all groups. We also demonstrated how the use of a gauze and speech therapy is not essential, except, in the latter case, when the child has unhealthy habits or speech problems.

5. Conclusions

The conclusions of this study support the thesis that laser technology, together with oral myofunctional therapy, is an efficient and innovative treatment for frenulectomy. In fact, the observed millimetrical and functional postoperative increases were enough to normalize the function of the lingual organ. Definitely, new studies will be needed with larger numbers of subjects to obtain more sensitive and specific data concerning the typology of the protocol used.

Limitations of the Study

The evaluation of pain is extremely subjective.

Inconsistent levels of compliance by the patients could have influenced the improvements of the parameters unevenly.