Management of Ankyloglossia in a Six-Year-Old Child After Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery: A Case Report

Ankyloglossia or tongue-tie is caused by an excessively short, thick lingual frenum that restricts the normal movements and functions of the tongue. It has a higher prevalence in infants than in children and adults. In the present case, a six-year-old male came with his parents with a chief complaint of difficulty in speech. His medical history revealed that he had a congenital cleft lip and cleft palate, for which he had undergone surgery soon after his birth. He was categorized by Kotlow classification as Class II (moderate ankyloglossia). Under local anaesthesia, diode laser surgery was planned to treat the tongue-tie. The patient showed excellent healing after a one-week follow-up. An increase in tongue movements was seen and the patient was put in consultation with a speech therapist.