Ankyloglossia, also known as tongue-tie, is an oral anomaly present from birth and may decrease mobility of the tongue tip and is caused by an unusually short, thick lingual frenulm, a membrane connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Ankyloglossia varies in degree of severity from mild cases characterized by mucous membrane bands to complete ankyloglossia whereby the tongue is tethered to the floor of the mouth.
Effects of tongue-tie
- Difficulty in eating
- Difficulty in speech
- Bad oral hygiene
- Mechanical/social effects
- Prevent the tongue from contacting the anterior palate which can result in an open bite deformity.
- Mandibular prognathism when the tongue contacts the anterior portion of the mandible with exaggerated anterior thrusts.
Treatment
Cutting through the
attachment/frenum
using LASER/BLADE under
Local anesthesia
(Frenotomy/Frenoplasty)
