• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.568-574
• /
• 2009

Tongue-tie is a congenital anomaly characterized by an abnormally short lingual frenum, which may restrict tongue tip mobility, In the neonate and infant, tongue-tie was said to cause difficult breast-feeding, In the older infant, toddler and young child, poor speech has been frequently listed because movement of tongue tip is limit ed. Also as a abnormal tongue position, various orthodontic problems, later mechanical and social manifestations could be developed. Treatment options such as observation, speech therapy, frenotomy and frenectomy have been suggested. The optimal timing for the surgery has not been determined, but early intervention may be appropriate for the children with significant tongue-tie who has the significant potential to speech difficulties and later social and mechanical problems. Sedation is an effective method for incapable of cooperative and the handicapped children, necessary to early intervention. We report three cases, using oral sedation for the frenectomy in young children with severe tongue-tie. After treatments, we could find out sufficient tongue movement and improved speech ability.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.145-149
• /
• 2009

Sturge-Weber Syndrome is a rare congenital disorder and is characterized by port wine nevus following one or more divisions of trigeminal nerve, ocular involvement(eg, glaucoma) and neurologic involvement(eg, epilepsy, mental retardation). Oral menifestations include unilateral blood vessel expansion of the oral mucosa and gingiva, gingival hyperplasia, giant tooth, ipsilateral large tongue, blood vessel anomaly of maxilla or mandible and abnormal eruption sequence. This case report is about 8-year-old Sturge-Weber Syndrome patient presented violet discoloration on upper gingiva and buccal mucosa, gingival hyperplasia and abnormal eruption sequence. In this case, we performed lingual frenectomy and periodic oral hygiene management, and obtained satisfactory result.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.310-317
• /
• 2002

We have examined 20 tongue-tie patients who had been operated the lingual frenectomy in Dept. of Oral & Maxillofacial surgery, Pusan National University for the effect of the lingual frenectomy on the tongue motion and speech, and divided patients into groups by age. Each group was separated as follows ; the age of 5-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-15, and 16-18. We measured the frenal lengh, the range of tongue motion and evaluated the speech pre- and postoperatively. The preoperative patient groups have larger tongue tips and smaller lingual frenums than normal ones. In the preoperative patient group, there was significant obstacle of the protrusive and superior movement of the tongue. The exception was the laterotrusive movement on both sides. There was the lower value of the Picture Consonant Articulation Test(PCAT) in the preoperative 5 to 6 year-old group compared with normal group. In other age groups, there was no significant difference. The range of postoperative PCAT in all age groups has become as similiar as that of normal group. The 5 to 6 year-old group which had significant difference in PCAT was improved in PCAT. In conclusion, we propose that the PCAT as well as anatomical tongue size and functional tongue movement is the basis of the indication of lingual frenectomy and the 5-6 year-old is the optimal time of the lingual frenectomy for improvement of the tongue movement and the speech.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.357-367
• /
• 2022

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a disease characterized by repeated hypopnea and apnea during sleep due to complete or partial obstruction of upper airway. The prevalence of pediatric SDB is approximately 12 - 15%, and the most common age group is preschool children aged 3 - 5 years. Children show more varied presentations, from snoring and frequent arousals to enuresis and hyperactivity. The main cause of pediatric SDB is obstruction of the upper airway related to enlarged tonsils and adenoids. If SDB is left untreated, it can cause complications such as learning difficulties, cognitive impairment, behavioral problems, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and poor growth. Pediatric dentists are in a special position to identify children at risk for SDB. Pediatric dentists recognize clinical features related to SDB, and they should screen for SDB by using the pediatric sleep questionnaire (PSQ), lateral cephalometry radiograph, and portable sleep monitoring test and refer to sleep specialists. As a therapeutic approach, maxillary arch expansion treatment, mandible advancement device, and lingual frenectomy can be performed. Pediatric dentists should recognize that prolonged mouth breathing, lower tongue posture, and ankyloglossia can cause abnormal facial skeletal growth patterns and sleep problems. Pediatric dentists should be able to prevent these problems through early intervention.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.88-94
• /
• 2011

Ranula is a mucosal cyst that occurs in the mouth floor. This is a pseudo cyst caused by mucous retention within the tissue due to the rupture of catheter in the salivary gland. Ranula occurs mainly in a unilateral form and is characterized by painless bluish transparent swelling, with a increasing mass size. If the size is large, it can cause discomfort during swallowing, pronounciation, and mastication, but external swelling and infection is rare. Treatments include observation for spontaneous resolution, simple incision and drainage, marsupialization and excision. Marsupialization done by removing parts of the cyst wall and connecting it to the oral mucosa. It is a conservative procedure and recommended for children. It has advantages such as maintaining outline of oral tissue and less risk of damaging anatomic structure. Recurrence is common, mostly occurring within 4 months after surgery. This case is about a eight-year-old girl with ranula on the right mouth floor. This patient was treated with marsupialization that is one of treatment for ranula, and recurrence was not observed.