• Reconstructive surgery
  • Eye cavity operations
  • Cleft lip and palate
  • Craniofacial malformations
  • Jaw ridge augmentation
  • Tongue lesions/alterations

Treatment of tongue lesions and alterations

The tongue can also show the same lesions as the rest of the mucous membrane in the oral cavity and the genitals. While performing operations on the tongue, its functions, that is, its ability to move, feel, taste, swallow and as well as speak should be taken into account. The tongue can be very large (macroglossia), so that speech is disturbed, the teeth move forward by the constant pressure and, what is particularly dangerous, lead to the development of an obstructive sleep apnoea, although the lower jaw is of normal size and is not receding. Here the tongue has to be reduced in size urgently. Several surgical methods which do not cause any functional impairment are available.

Microsurgical treatment of the lingual nerve

The lingual nerve is occasionally injured while removing the lower wisdom teeth, so that the tongue is without sensation on one side. Even the sense of taste can be affected. The earlier the severed nerve is joined through microsurgery, the greater the chances of its regeneration. To overcome a nerve defect, Prof. Sailer uses the nervus suralis from the lower thigh, if a direct unification of the nerve stumps of the lingual nerve is no longer possible. The complicated procedure is performed from within the oral cavity.