The Efficacy of Lingual Laser Frenectomy in Pediatric OSAS: A Randomized Double-Blinded and Controlled Clinical Study

Miriam Fioravanti, Francesca Zara, Iole Vozza, Antonella Polimeni and Gian Luca Sfasciotti
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Miriam Fioravanti: Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Francesca Zara: Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Iole Vozza: Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Antonella Polimeni: Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Gian Luca Sfasciotti: Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: This randomized, double-blind and controlled clinical trial investigates how a diode laser lingual frenectomy can improve obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in pediatric patients. Background: Several authors have shown that a short lingual frenulum causes a reduction in incoming air flow and the relationship between OSAS and a short lingual frenulum. Methods: Thirty-two pediatric patients were equally randomly divided into a Study Group (SG) and a Control Group (CG). On each SG patient a polysomnography 1 (PSG1) and a lingual frenectomy were performed using a diode laser via Doctor Smile Wiser technology, power 7 W. After three months, a new polysomnography (PSG2) was performed to evaluate the lingual frenectomy efficacy in pediatric patients. The pain was assessed by a numerical rating scale (NRS) before and after surgery. The CG followed the same protocol without a lingual frenectomy but myofunctional and speech therapy were conducted to qualitatively and quantitatively improve the lingual functionality. In the SG, eight subjects (50%) had severe OSAS and eight had moderate (50%) while in the CG, three subjects had severe OSAS (18.8%) and thirteen had moderate (81.2%). Results: In the SG, 93.8% were classified as mild OSAS and 6.2% as moderate. In contrast, in the CG, 18.75% were classified as mild OSAS, 62.5% as moderate and 18.75% as severe. Conclusion: The study demonstrates how a lingual laser frenectomy can improve OSAS in pediatric patients.

Keywords: OSAS; lingual frenectomy; laser; pediatric OSAS; ankyloglossia; frenulectomy; tongue-tie; lingual frenulum; diode laser; laser therapy; oral surgery; paediatric (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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