Short Tongue? It Can Be Treated with a Lingual Frenectomy. Bongcheon-dong Dental Clinic

This is Dr. Park Jeong-gi of Seoul Remember Dental Clinic in Bongcheon-dong.

"Have you ever heard that your tongue forms a heart shape when you stick it out, or that your tongue is short?"

It may look cute,

but this is one of the 대표적인 symptoms that appears when there is a problem with the lingual frenulum.

It may exist in many more people than you think,

and since you may be wondering whether it is actually a problem,

or, if it is, where and how you should get treatment,

you may be reading this post.

Today, at Bongcheon-dong Dental Clinic, we will organize the information in an easy-to-understand way.

What Is a Lingual Frenectomy?

It is a surgery that removes the membrane tissue called the lingual frenulum (tongue-tie),

which connects the underside of the tongue to the inside of the mouth.

Normally, it should play a role in appropriately limiting tongue movement and providing stability,

but if it is too short or too thick,

it can instead interfere with normal movement.

This is a relatively simple procedure,

and takes about 15 to 30 minutes under local anesthesia. Most cases can be treated on the same day.

Because this falls under minor oral surgery, rather than dermatology or plastic surgery,

it is best to have it performed at a dental clinic.

Recently, methods using lasers have made it possible to greatly reduce bleeding and pain,

so at Seoul Remember in Bongcheon-dong, we recommend proceeding with a laser cautery device.

Is It Necessary?

You may be wondering whether it is really necessary, even if it is uncomfortable.

If so, take a look at the reasons for treatment explained by Bongcheon-dong Dental Clinic, and consider treatment if 2 or more of the items below apply to you.

1. Feeding and eating difficulties

Because tongue movement is restricted when eating, there may be difficulty with the swallowing process.

Please check whether you have discomfort when using a straw or when eating and drinking.

In particular, for newborns and infants,

it can affect growth if there are problems with breastfeeding, so during a child’s developmental process, parents should also check this part carefully.

2. Pronunciation

When tongue movement is restricted, it becomes difficult to pronounce sounds such as "ㄹ," "ㅅ," and "ㅊ" accurately.

Especially in school-aged children, this may lead to delayed language development or even social withdrawal caused by pronunciation problems.

3. Oral hygiene management

When movement is restricted, cleaning the inside of the mouth becomes difficult, which increases the risk of cavities and gum disease.

After a lingual frenectomy, self-cleaning ability using the tongue improves.

4. Preventing tooth alignment problems

Severe ankyloglossia can create a space between the lower front teeth, which may cause gaps between the teeth (midline diastema).

If treated early, it may reduce the need for orthodontic treatment.

before & after

At Bongcheon-dong Dental Clinic, we will briefly show before-and-after photos to help with understanding.

2025.05.20

Before surgery, the end of the lingual frenulum limits movement,

and at this time, even if the tongue is stretched far forward, it often cannot go beyond the lips, or the tip of the tongue cannot touch the upper lip.

2025.05.20

Immediately after, there is slight swelling and pain accompanies recovery.

During this period, please take the prescribed medication consistently as directed,

and do not stop taking it arbitrarily without consulting the doctor in charge.

2025.06.04

After about two weeks, as the wound heals, movement becomes much freer.

At Bongcheon-dong Dental Clinic, we explain that from this stage onward, you may feel improvement in pronunciation,

and eating and oral hygiene management will also become much easier.

"Don't talk with a short tongue!" there is such an expression^^,

but these problems can be medically resolved through a simple minor surgery.

So if you are experiencing discomfort, please be sure to get examined.

Thank you for reading. This was Dr. Park Jeong-gi of Seoul Remember Dental Clinic in Bongcheon-dong.

2025.05.20 ~ 2025.06.04