This year, 231 babies in the city underwent an operation to release the tongue frenulum (frenotomy), which is performed on children born with so-called “tongue tie” (Ankyloglossia). The procedure is offered free of charge by the Municipal Directorate of Health, through the Department of Dentistry, which administers the Open Doors program. The program provides care for pregnant women with Prenatal Dentistry and Infant Dentistry services in the first 1000 days of life (24 months).
Just two months old, Davi Lucas was one of the newborns who underwent surgical intervention performed by the pediatric dental team at the Center for Dental Specialties (CEO), which operates in the Health Center, building next to the secretariat. The baby’s mother, Glayce Kelly Abreu Rosário, 24, said she found out her son would need surgery after taking the language test at Cidade da Criança.
“I have already left the hospital where he was born with the referral to Cidade da Criança and there they verified the need for surgery,” said Glayce, underlining that the appointment of the procedure was very quick. “The team that helped me was very attentive. Everything went well in the operation,” said the mother.
The CEO Supervisor of Pediatric Dentistry, Leonardo Moço, stated that Cidade da Criança is a reference in the municipality for the performance of tongue, heel and ear tests. Frenotomy surgery, if indicated, is referred to the Health Center and scheduled for Wednesday and/or Thursday and the Child and Adolescent Referral and Treatment Center (CRTCA 2), formerly Apic, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, where each unit has three pediatric dentists.
“Surgery is indicated for children diagnosed with shortening of the lingual frenulum. Therefore, they may have difficulty breastfeeding properly, hindering suction during breastfeeding. This causes the baby to not gain weight properly, causing discomfort for the mother and baby and feeding problems. In other stages of life, we may have interference in the way we eat, speak, among other problems,” explained Leonardo.
He also said that the language test was made mandatory, through federal law no. 13,002 of June 2014. The test is preferably done in the first month of the baby’s life, but it can be performed up to 6 months.
According to the director of the Department of Dentistry, José Luiz Oliveira, Campos is one of the few municipalities that offers a referral service like frenotomy surgery. “Our dentists are highly trained. Some took courses in São Paulo and we also had professionals from São Paulo present in our city to train professionals”.
