Assessment of the tongue frenulum in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome: Pre- and post-frenectomy findings

Abstract

Aim: To report the pre- and post-frenectomy findings of a patient with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.

Methods and results: Clinical case report of a patient with a confirmed genetic-molecular diagnosis of the referred syndrome. The minor was evaluated and reassessed by the protocol for the evaluation of the tongue's frenulum for babies in two moments: pre-surgical and 2 months after the frenectomy. The surgical procedure was performed using the traditional technique and, after the procedure, the minor was breastfed and received photobiomodulation with a red laser. The minor obtained 16 points in the neonatal tongue screening test, indicating the need for a frenectomy. Thus, she was referred to a dentist for surgery. After the surgical procedure, macroglossia was observed as a maternal complaint (previously not mentioned). The wound healing was satisfactory, and the total score obtained in the reapplication of the protocol (five points) showed functional results of improvements in sucking and tongue mobility, justifying the importance of the frenectomy.

Conclusion: Frenectomy, despite showing macroglossia related to the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, allowed anatomical and functional advances of the tongue in the present clinical case.

Keywords: oral health; oral motor function; oral surgery.