Ankyloglossia-Related Speech Articulation Correction in Orthodontics: A Case Report

Abstract

The ability of the tongue to protrude and elevate is the most crucial characteristic for activities like eating, speaking, nursing, and the development of dental arches. When the lingual frenum is short and tight, it can hinder the movement of the tongue, leading to malalignment of anterior teeth and Speech Articulation. This article discusses a case report of a 20-year-old male patient with a chief complaint of speech difficulty, maxillary anterior teeth spacing, and mandibular anterior teeth crowding. There was lingual frenum attachment suggestive of mild ankyloglossia. Patient underwent a lingual frenectomy pro- cedure under local anaesthesia which resulted in speech correction and relief of lower anterior crowding. Maxillary anterior spacing and midline diastema was corrected with orthodontic mechanotherapy and labial frenectomy, re- spectively. In cases where the frenulum anomaly is severe enough to result in both mechanical and functional limitations, surgery to reduce the frenulum (frenulectomy) is recommended. In consequence, it is fair to state that the chief complaint of inappropriate speech of the patient need to be resolved by an interdisciplinary approach.