Influence of Neonatal Ankyloglossia on exclusive breastfeeding in the six first months of life: a cohort study. / Influência da Anquiloglossia neonatal na amamentação exclusiva nos seis primeiros meses de vida: estudo de coorte.

PURPOSE: To analyze the influence of ankyloglossia on the prevalence and duration of exclusive breastfeeding of full-term infants up to the sixth month of life. METHODS: Prospective cohort study, carried out with 225 mother-infant dyads who were followed up in the first six months of life in a center specialized in breastfeeding in a tertiary hospital. Full-term infants with asymptomatic ankyloglossia (no need for surgery) were compared with infants without change at monthly follow-up. Ankyloglossia was diagnosed using the Bristol Tongue Assessment Tool, with a positive diagnosis being considered for those with a score less than or equal to 5 considering functional and anatomical aspects. Statistical analyzes were performed using descriptive statistics, logistic regression (weaning determinants), relative risk, and survival curves (to analyze breastfeeding duration between groups with and without ankyloglossia). RESULTS: Ankyloglossia was associated with weaning (considered even partial) before the sixth month of life. After adjusted analysis, a higher risk of weaning was detected in infants with this alteration, with a risk present from the second month of life. In the survival analysis, the duration of breastfeeding in infants with ankyloglossia was shorter when compared to children without alterations. CONCLUSION: Compared to infants with normal lingual frenulum, babies with ankyloglossia had shorter exclusive breastfeeding time, but well above the average observed in the general population. The risk of weaning for this group was also higher.

OBJETIVO: Analisar a influência da anquiloglossia na prevalência e no tempo de exclusividade do aleitamento materno de lactentes a termo até o sexto mês de vida. MÉTODOS: Estudo de coorte prospectivo, realizado com 225 díades mãe-bebê que foram acompanhadas nos seis primeiros meses de vida em centro especializado em amamentação em um hospital terciário. Lactentes a termo com anquiloglossia do tipo assintomática (sem necessidade de cirurgia) foram comparados com lactentes sem alteração em um acompanhamento mensal. O diagnóstico de anquiloglossia foi realizado através do Bristol Tongue Assessment Tool, sendo considerados com diagnóstico positivo aqueles com escore menores ou iguais a 5 considerando os aspectos funcionais e anatômicos. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas através de estatística descritiva, regressão logística (determinantes do desmame), risco relativo e curvas de sobrevivência (para analisar o tempo de aleitamento entre os grupos com e sem anquiloglossia). RESULTADOS: A anquiloglossia esteve associada com o desmame (considerado ainda que parcial) antes do sexto mês de vida. Após análise ajustada, foi detectado maior risco de desmame nos lactentes com a alteração presente, com risco presente a partir do segundo mês de vida. Na análise de sobrevida, o tempo de aleitamento nos lactentes com anquiloglossia foi menor quando comparadas às crianças sem alteração. CONCLUSÃO: Em comparação com lactentes com freio lingual normal, os bebês com anquiloglossia apresentaram tempo menor de aleitamento exclusivo, porém bem acima da média observada na população geral. O risco de desmame para este grupo também foi maior.

Expanding the phenotype in Pitt-Hopkins syndrome; description of new oral finding and dental management considerations.

BACKGROUND: Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder with physical, cognitive, and behavioral characteristics that is caused by heterozygous mutations in the TCF4 gene. Patients with PTHS might present a unique challenge for oral healthcare professionals because of the associated comorbidities. CASE REPORT: Here we describe a new case of PTHS in a 13-year-old girl with particular emphasis on oro-dental findings and oral healthcare management. Observed oro-dental findings in our case included shallow palate, absence of lingual frenum, gingival enlargement, thick lips and relative microdontia. The patient was unable to tolerate dental care under local anesthesia. Therefore, comprehensive dental treatment was performed under general anesthesia after a careful pre-anesthetic cardio-respiratory, neurological, and hematological evaluation. The patient was closely monitored intra-operatively for breathing rhythm, O2 saturation, and signs of respiratory distress. The patient was observed for 24 h post-op for respiratory distress and was discharged then uneventfully. CONCLUSION: Dental treatment under general anesthesia in these patients might be complicated by the abnormal breathing rhythm, and close monitoring and follow up for signs of respiratory distress after general anesthesia is necessary. Recognition of oral and dental findings might help to expand the phenotype and better characterize rare syndromes.

The influence of tight tongue-ties and tongue-tie clips on speech development.

Ankyloglossia or tongue-tie is a condition where the anatomical variation of the sublingual frenulum can limit normal tongue function. In Denmark, as in other countries, an increase in the number of children treated for ankyloglossia has been described over the past years. Whether or not ankyloglossia and its release affect the speech has also been increasingly discussed on Danish television and social media. In this review, the possible connection between ankyloglossia, its surgical treatment, and speech development in children is discussed.

Alternative Therapies for Ankyloglossia-Associated Breastfeeding Challenges: A Systematic Review.

Background: Ankyloglossia (AG) diagnoses are increasingly common, and management is not standardized. Nonsurgical alternative therapies are frequently recommended in conjunction with or instead of frenotomy, with uncertain evidence. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of nonsurgical alternative therapies (chiropractic care, myofunctional therapy, and osteopathy) in improving breastfeeding for infants diagnosed with AG. Methods: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar were searched (September-October 2023). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. A librarian-designed search included the terms "Ankyloglossia," "Non-surgical," "myofunctional therapy," "chiropractic," "osteopathy," and related therapies, with no date restrictions. English language studies of infants <24 months with AG and alternative therapy were included. Risk-of-bias evaluation used Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results: Of 1,304 identified articles, four studies (2016-2022) met inclusion criteria (two cross-sectional, one case report, and one case series). All studies reported frenotomy in combination with alternative therapy yielded favorable outcomes for maternal pain, weight gain, feeding duration, and maintenance of latch. The risk of bias was moderate for two studies, low for the case series, and not calculated for the case report, which has an inherent high risk of bias. All studies lacked control or comparator groups preventing definitive conclusions about the role of alternative therapies in AG. Conclusion: Although some studies suggest the potential benefits of combining alternative therapies with surgery for AG-related breastfeeding issues, the lack of control groups renders the evidence inconclusive. Nonsurgical approaches alone currently lack sufficient evidence. As these alternative therapies gain popularity, rigorous research is crucial to determine their cost-effectiveness and role in managing AG.

Speech Outcomes of Frenectomy for Tongue-Tie Release: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Tongue-tie, which is also known as ankyloglossia, is a common condition where the lingual frenulum is unusually tight or short. While most literature investigates the impact of tongue-tie on breastfeeding, recent articles have examined its role in speech production in children. However, these have not previously been reviewed systematically. This study aims to determine the impact of tongue-tie on speech outcomes and assess whether frenectomy can improve speech function. METHODS: In this systematic review, we conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, and speechBITE to analyze primary studies investigating the impact of frenectomy for tongue-tie on speech outcomes. We extracted data regarding patient age, male to female ratio, procedure type, follow-up time, and speech outcomes and ran statistical analyses to determine if frenectomy for tongue-tie leads to improvement in speech issues in pediatric patients. Speech outcomes extracted were subjectively measured based on the interpretation of a speech and language pathologist or parent. RESULTS: Our analysis included 10 studies with an average patient age of 4.10 years, and average cohort size of 22.17 patients. Overall, frenectomy for tongue-tie was associated with an improvement in speech articulation (0.78; 95% CI: 0.64-0.87; P < .01). Increasing patient age was found to be negatively correlated with post-frenectomy speech outcomes (P = .01). However, this relationship disappeared in the adjusted model. CONCLUSION: Overall, we conclude that frenectomy is a suitable treatment to correct speech issues in select patients with tongue-tie if caught early in childhood. Despite the limited investigations around speech outcomes post-frenectomy, these results are informative to providers treating tongue-tie.

Ankyloglossia and Breastfeeding Duration: A Multicenter Birth Cohort Study.

Background and Objective: The prevalence of ankyloglossia and its impact on breastfeeding practices may be overestimated, leading to surgical overtreatment in newborns. The study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of ankyloglossia in the first year of life and investigate the association with exclusive and total breastfeeding duration in different regions of Brazil. Materials and Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study involved the recruitment of mother-infant pairs soon after childbirth in public hospitals in three state capitals in Brazil. Interviews were held with the mothers after birth, at 6 and 12 months to collect sociodemographic variables and data on exclusive and total breastfeeding duration. At 12 months of age, the children were submitted to a dental examination for classification of the lingual frenulum using the Bristol Tongue Assessment Tool. Data analysis involved Poisson regression with robust variance, with the calculation of unadjusted and adjusted relative risk (RR). Results: The final sample was composed of 293 children. The prevalence of defined and suspected ankyloglossia was 1% and 4.8%, respectively, totaling 5.8% (confidence interval [95% CI]: 3.1-8.5). No significant difference was found in the prevalence of exclusive and total breastfeeding at 1, 4, and 6 months between children with defined/suspected ankyloglossia and those without ankyloglossia. The multivariable analysis showed that the probability of the child achieving 6 months of breastfeeding did not differ between groups (RR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.79-1.23; p = 0.907). Conclusion: The prevalence of defined ankyloglossia was very low and defined/suspected ankyloglossia was not associated with exclusive or total breastfeeding duration. Clinical Trial Registration: Registered with clinicaltrials.gov (n° NCT03841123).

The buccal frenum: Trends in diagnosis and indications for treatment of buccal-ties among 466 healthcare professionals.

BACKGROUND: The buccal frenum is connective tissue that adheres the mucosa of the cheek to the alveolar process. When restricted, this condition is commonly known as a buccal- or cheek-tie. Restrictive buccal frena are often treated during tongue- and lip-tie procedures, yet widely accepted classification, diagnostic and treatment guidelines are lacking. OBJECTIVE: Provide a scoping review on the evaluation and management of buccal-ties, including diagnosis, classification, symptoms and treatment, by surveying healthcare providers with experience evaluating and managing oral restrictions. METHODS: Literature review and IRB-approved survey to assess practice patterns among healthcare providers identified from online directories of tongue-tie release providers and associated allied health professionals. RESULTS: A multidisciplinary group of 466 providers responded. About 87% indicated that they assess buccal restrictions. Evaluation methods included finger sweep (89.1%), visual inspection (76.4%), tissue blanching (66.5%) and functional assessment (53.4%). Around 94% of providers reported that objective and subjective findings are both needed for diagnosis and that an estimated 5%-10% of infants may be affected. About 70% of providers release buccal-ties (if needed) simultaneously with tongue-ties, and 76.8% recommend post-operative stretches as necessary for optimal healing. Respondents indicated a need for further research, evidence-based assessments, a classification system and treatment protocols. CONCLUSION: Evaluating a buccal frenum to diagnose a symptomatic buccal-tie relies upon visual inspection, palpation and assessment of oral function. Survey data and clinical experience are summarized to review classification systems, diagnostic/evaluation criteria and treatment recommendations as a foundational cornerstone for future works to build upon.

New Validated Tool to Diagnose Breastfeeding Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding behaviors and experiences exist on a continuum. What differentiates normal from dysfunctional is defined by frequency and severity. No current validated tool addresses the subjective experience of dyads with a predictive score that can be followed over time. RESEARCH AIM: To create and validate a self-report tool to assess breastfeeding and evaluate its ability to predict risk of breastfeeding dysfunction. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design to determine the validity of a novel instrument to assess breastfeeding dysfunction. We gave the initial questionnaire to 2085 breastfeeding dyads. We assessed content validity by comparison with other tools. We used exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation for concept identification and Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency. We employed logistic regression to assess the tool's ability to differentiate between normal breastfeeding and breastfeeding dysfunction. RESULTS: Factor analysis mapped 17 questions to four concepts to create a score (FLIP; flow, latch, injury [to the nipple], and post-feed behavior). Internal consistency and reliability of the scores in these concepts were acceptable (Cronbach's alpha ≥ 0.087 for all measures). A logistic regression model that controlled for infant age, with a breastfeeding dysfunction risk classification threshold of 60%, yielded a correct classification of 88.7%, with 93.1% sensitivity, 64.6% specificity, and a 6.5% false positive rate. CONCLUSIONS: The FLIP score was determined to be a valid and reliable instrument for quantifying the severity of breastfeeding dysfunction in children under 1 year old. Further studies will assess its usefulness in the management of breastfeeding dysfunction.

Quantitative impact of frenotomy on breastfeeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms related to infant ankyloglossia/tongue-tie may deter mothers from breastfeeding, yet frenotomy is controversial. METHODS: Databases included PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from 1961-2023. Controlled trials and cohort studies with validated measures of surgical efficacy for breastfeeding outcomes were eligible. Meta-analyses synthesized data with inverse-variance weighting to determine standardized mean differences (SMD) between pre-/postoperative scores. RESULTS: Twenty-one of 1568 screened studies were included. Breastfeeding self-efficacy improved significantly post-frenotomy: medium effect after 5-10 days (SMD 0.60 [95% CI: 0.48, 0.71; P < 0.001]), large effect after 1 month (SMD 0.91 [CI: 0.79, 1.04; P < 0.001]). Nipple pain decreased significantly post-frenotomy: large effect after 5-15 days (SMD -1.10 [CI: -1.49, -0.70; P < 0.001]) and 1 month (SMD -1.23 [CI: -1.79, -0.67; P = 0.002]). Frenotomy had a medium effect on infant gastroesophageal reflux severity at 1-week follow-up (SMD -0.63 [CI: -0.95, -0.31; P = 0.008]), with continued improvement at 1 month (SMD -0.41 [CI: -0.78, -0.05; P = 0.04]). From LATCH scores, breastfeeding quality improved after 5-7 days by a large SMD of 1.28 (CI: 0.56, 2.00; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Providers should offer frenotomy to improve outcomes in dyads with ankyloglossia-associated breastfeeding difficulties. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO identifier CRD42022303838 . IMPACT: This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that breastfeeding self-efficacy, maternal pain, infant latch, and infant gastroesophageal reflux significantly improve after frenotomy in mother-infant dyads with breastfeeding difficulties and ankyloglossia. Providers should offer frenotomy to improve breastfeeding outcomes in symptomatic mother-infant dyads who face challenges associated with ankyloglossia.

Relationship between Ankyloglossia and Breastfeeding: A Bibliometric Review

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess global trends in the publication of studies investigating the association between ankyloglossia and breastfeeding. Material and Methods: An electronic search was performed in the Scopus database without restrictions. Observational studies and clinical trials were included. Bibliometric indices such as publication year, authors, co-authors, journals, field of knowledge, countries, and the most cited keywords were analyzed using the VOSviewer program. Results: The search retrieved 350 studies, and 68 were selected. The first article was published in 2000 in the United States. The United States presented the highest number of publications (n=21), followed by Brazil (n=9) and the United Kingdom (n=9). An increase in publications on this theme was observed in 2013; 2021 was the year with the highest number of publications (n=14). The most common word was "frenulum". The authors with the highest number of publications were Botze and Dollbert from Israel (n=3), Ghaheri, and Mace from the United States (n=3). Among the journals, "Breastfeeding Medicine" presented the highest number of publications (n=7), followed by the "International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology" (n=6), "CODAS" (n=5), "Journal of Human Lactation" (n=4) and "Pediatrics" (n=3); the latter published the top-cited studies, with 412 citations. Conclusion: There has been an increase in recent articles evaluating the correlation between ankyloglossia and breastfeeding, indicating the growing interest of researchers in this field.

Frenectomia lingual com laser de diodo de alta potência: relato de caso / Lingual frenectomy with high-power diode laser: a case report / Frenectomía lingual con láser de diodo de alta potencia: informe de un caso

Introdução: A laserterapia de alta potência tem estabelecido proporções satisfatórias na odontologia e se tornando a primeira opção de conduta cirúrgica para procedimentos, trazendo qualidade de vida aos pacientes e praticidade aos Cirurgiões. Objetivo: Relatar caso clínico de frenectomia lingual com uso do laser de diodo de alta potência ressaltando os benefícios da conduta. Relato de caso: Paciente sexo feminino, leucoderma, sem alterações sistêmicas, chega à Clínica Escola de Odontologia da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, com queixa principal de alterações na sua fonologia. No exame intraoral observou-se dificuldade de movimentação lingual e em formato de coração devido a inserção fibrosa do freio, sendo observado a Anquiloglossia. Após explicações da alteração, do tratamento, e assinatura do Termo de Consentimento, foi iniciado a cirurgia: antissepsia, anestesia com vasoconstrictor, e em modo contínuo utilizou-se o laser de diodo de alta potência (TW Surgical- MMO®) configurado em 2W de potência, fibra 600µm, no comprimento de onda infravermelho, de modo que as fibras fossem separadas uniformemente e promovesse mobilidade imediata da língua, por fim realizou-se uma sutura em ponto simples com fio reabsorvível. Para o pós-operatório foi prescrito Dipirona em caso de dor, e estabelecido o acompanhamento. No retorno de 7 dias observou-se cicatrização normal e não ingestão do medicamento, em 30 dias foi visto a completa cicatrização e mobilidade sem desconforto, além de relato da paciente de melhoria na condição de relacionamentos sociais, autoestima e deglutição. Conclusão: O resultado apresentado neste artigo ratifica a benefício da escolha do laser em comparação ao convencional, demonstrando que não há sangramento no trans e pós cirúrgico, além de favorecer o processo de reparação tecidual, da redução do tempo cirúrgico, aumento do conforto, e diminuição de uso de medicamento, desta forma associando o laser cirúrgico a melhoria da qualidade de vida.

Introduction: High-power laser therapy has established satisfactory proportions in dentistry and has become the first choice for surgical procedures, bringing quality of life to patients and convenience to surgeons. Objective: To report a clinical case of lingual frenectomy using high-power diode laser, highlighting the benefits of this approach. Case report: A female patient, leucoderma, without systemic alterations, arrived at the Dental School Clinic of the Federal University of Campina Grande with the main complaint of alterations in her phonology. In the intraoral examination, difficulty in lingual movement and a heart-shaped tongue due to fibrous insertion of the frenum were observed, indicating Ankyloglossia. After explanations of the condition, treatment, and signing of the Informed Consent Form, the surgery was initiated: antisepsis, anesthesia with vasoconstrictor, and continuous mode using a high-power diode laser configured at 2W of power, 600µm fiber, at an infrared wavelength, with the aim of uniformly separating the fibers and promoting immediate tongue mobility. Finally, a simple suture was performed using absorbable thread. For the postoperative period, Dipyrone was prescribed for pain relief, and follow-up was established. At the 7-day follow-up, normal healing was observed, and the patient did not require the medication. At 30 days, complete healing and discomfort-free mobility were observed, along with the patient's testimony of improvement in social relationships, self-esteem, and swallowing. Conclusion: The results presented in this article confirm the benefits of choosing laser therapy over conventional methods, demonstrating the absence of bleeding during and after surgery, promoting tissue repair, reducing surgical time, increasing comfort, and decreasing the use of medication. Therefore, the use of surgical laser is associated with an improvement in quality of life.

Introducción: La terapia láser de alta potencia se ha establecido en proporciones satisfactorias en odontología y se ha convertido en la primera elección para procedimientos quirúrgicos, aportando calidad de vida a los pacientes y practicidad a los cirujanos. Objetivo: Relatar un caso clínico de frenectomía lingual con láser de diodo de alta potencia, destacando los beneficios de este procedimiento. Relato del caso: Paciente del sexo femenino, leucoderma, sin alteraciones sistémicas, llegó a la Clínica de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad Federal de Campina Grande con la queja principal de alteraciones en su fonología. El examen intraoral reveló dificultad en el movimiento lingual y lengua en forma de corazón debido a la inserción fibrosa del freno, observándose anquiloglosia. Tras explicar la alteración, el tratamiento y firmar el consentimiento, se inició la cirugía: antisepsia, anestesia con vasoconstrictor y uso continuado de un láser de diodo de alta potencia (TW Surgical- MMO®) configurado a 2W de potencia, fibra de 600µm, a longitud de onda infrarroja, para que las fibras se separaran uniformemente y favorecieran la movilidad inmediata de la lengua, y finalmente una sutura de punto único con hilo reabsorbible. En el postoperatorio, se prescribió dipirona en caso de dolor y se estableció un seguimiento. En el seguimiento a los 7 días, se observó una cicatrización normal y no se tomó medicación. A los 30 días, se observó una cicatrización completa y movilidad sin molestias, así como el informe del paciente de una mejora de las relaciones sociales, la autoestima y la deglución. Conclusión: Los resultados presentados en este artículo confirman el beneficio de la elección del láser frente a la cirugía convencional, demostrando que no hay sangrado durante ni después de la cirugía, además de favorecer el proceso de reparación tisular, reducir el tiempo quirúrgico, aumentar el confort y reducir el uso de medicación, asociando así el láser quirúrgico a una mejor calidad de vida.

The development of a specialist tongue tie assessment clinic for neonates.

OBJECTIVES: Ankyloglossia or tongue tie is a condition where the lingual frenulum restricts tongue movement, negatively impacting breastfeeding. An increasing number of infants diagnosed with ankyloglossia may lead to unnecessary procedures. To limit the overtreatment of this problem, we established a specialist clinic to provide the best available evidence-based care to the mother-infant dyad. METHODS: We discuss the development of a specialist tongue tie assessment clinic in our unit. RESULTS: From January to October 2023, there were 162 visits to the clinic by 157 patients. During this time, there were 96 frenotomies performed. CONCLUSIONS: The mother-infant dyad is a vulnerable patient group. Establishing a specialist tongue tie assessment clinic with otolaryngology and lactation expertise provides the best available evidence-based care.

Ranula Formation After Lingual Frenectomy in a Newborn.

Ankyloglossia is a developmental anomaly characterized by a shortened lingual frenulum, which can range from cases with no clinical relevance to severe cases, where frenectomy may be indicated. In newborns, this indication has increased exponentially. The purpose of this report is to discuss obstruction of the sublingual caruncle, with a recurrent ranula, as a post-surgical complication of laser lingual frenectomy performed in a newborn. The treatment provided is also discussed (marsupialization and removal of the affected sublingual glands). Lingual frenectomy should be performed with great care, especially in newborns, because the sublingual caruncles can be affected and complications can occur.

The Impact of Ankyloglossia Beyond Breastfeeding: A Scoping Review of Potential Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spectrum of pediatric quality-of-life sequelae associated with ankyloglossia that may affect children who do not undergo tongue-tie release (frenotomy) during infancy. DATA SOURCES: This study contains data from PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (1961-January 2023). REVIEW METHOD: The review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews reporting guidelines. Experimental and observational studies were eligible if they reported baseline outcomes associated with ankyloglossia in children above a year of age. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality. Low-quality studies were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-six of 1,568 screened studies (> 1,228 patients) were included. Six studies were high quality and 20 were medium quality. Studies identified various symptoms that may be partially attributable to ankyloglossia after infancy, including speech/articulation difficulties, eating difficulties, dysphagia, sleep-disordered breathing symptoms, dental malocclusion, and social embarrassment such as oral hygiene issues. Multiple comparative studies found associations between ankyloglossia and risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea; a randomized controlled trial found that frenotomy may attenuate apnea severity. Ankyloglossia may also promote dental crowding. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Ankyloglossia may be associated with myriad effects on children's quality of life that extend beyond breastfeeding, but current data regarding the impact are inconclusive. This review provides a map of symptoms that providers may want to evaluate as we continue to debate the decision to proceed with frenotomy or nonsurgical therapies in children with ankyloglossia. A continuing need exists for controlled efficacy research on frenotomy for symptoms in older children and on possible longitudinal benefits of early frenotomy for maxillofacial development. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.23900199.

Ankyloglossia in Australia: Practices of health professionals.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the opinions and practices of health professionals involved in ankyloglossia diagnosis and management in Australia. METHOD: Two hundred and thirty-seven health professionals across Australia responded to an online survey including their diagnostic and management practice of ankyloglossia. Descriptive statistics, content analysis and thematic analysis were used to analyse quantitative data and open-ended responses, respectively. RESULTS: Most (91.6%) respondents reported they are responsible for the assessment and diagnosis of ankyloglossia in their clinical practice. A majority (56.7%) reported using more than one assessment tool in clinical practice. Less than half (46.4%) reported providing treatment to manage ankyloglossia. Surgical management was used by 44.5%, and 56.4% used non-surgical management as their primary treatment of ankyloglossia. Of the total sample, 26.6% had completed no further training or professional development in the field. 46% of respondents stated they always educate parents about ankyloglossia diagnoses, whereas 29.5% reported they always educate parents about management of ankyloglossia. Of respondents, a high level of confidence was reported by 62.6% of health professionals in the assessment of infants with ankyloglossia. Of those who perform surgical management, 53.7% reported feeling extremely confident in their skills. Fifty-two percent of respondents reported they were dissatisfied with the current service delivery for infants with ankyloglossia. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis, management and education practices varied greatly amongst health professionals in Australia. Clinical guidelines for all relevant health professionals are needed to ensure standardised diagnosis and management processes. In future, this will help guide evidence-based diagnosis and intervention for infants with ankyloglossia.

Surgical and Speech Therapy Evaluation of Lingual Frenulum.

Interdisciplinary evaluation is essential to diagnose and define clinical conduct for children and adults presenting with an altered lingual frenulum; however, there are few reports on the subject in the literature. In this context, the following study exemplifies a proposed protocol for the surgical and SLT treatment of a lingual frenulum based on a review of the literature and the experience of speech and language therapists and maxillofacial surgeons from hospitals in Santiago de Chile. After its application, a history of breastfeeding with difficulties and a maintained preference for soft foods was reported. Upon anatomic examination, the lingual apex was heart-shaped, and the lingual frenulum was fixed in the upper third of the ventral side of the tongue, with a pointed shape, submerged up to the apex, and of adequate thickness. Meanwhile, upon functional examination, the tongue was descended at rest, performed tongue protrusion with restrictions (raising and clicking), did not achieve attachment or vibration, and presented distortion of the sounds / r/ and /rr/. With this information, an altered lingual frenulum was diagnosed, with the indication for surgery and postoperative speech and language therapy. The constructed instrument allowed for the standardization of the evaluation in different teams but should be validated in future research.