Lingual frenectomy

A lingual frenectomy is a form of frenectomy associated with the tongue.

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The removal of the lingual frenulum under the tongue can be accomplished with either frenectomy or frenuloplasty. This is used to treat a tongue tied patient. Immediately after this minor oral surgery, the tongue can often dramatically extend out of the mouth which it could not do before. This can allow breastfeeding, help improve speech and promote proper tooth arch development in growing children.

Frenectomy has become popular in South Korea in order to lengthen normal children's tongues by about 1 mm so they can speak English better.^[1] Critics regard the surgery as unnecessary, as Koreans born in the United States have no trouble distinguishing r and l.^[2]

References

1. ^ Domenico Marceri, "English in France? Mais Oui!" Seoul Times, 2005.
2. ^ Demick, Barbara. "A snip of the tongue and English is yours!" Los Angeles Times, April 8 2002.