What is Ankyloglossia?

Ankyloglossia is a congenital condition commonly known of as "tongue-tie," where the thin band of tissue (lingual frenulum) attaching the middle part of the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth is unusually small and tight, hampering free movement of the tongue and restricting the mobility of the tongue tip. The condition may first be noted by parents within a few weeks of birth, particularly as it interferes with breastfeeding.

Associated conditions

Tongue-tie is more likely to manifest with certain syndromes and congenital conditions which include:

• Opitz syndrome
• Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
• Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome
• Orofaciodigital syndrome
• X-linked cleft palate

Consequences of ankyloglossia

Some problems caused by tongue-tie in an infant include:

• Impaired speech development
• Deformity of the lower front teeth or the incisors
• Deformity or recession of the gums
• Malocclusion of teeth
• Difficulty in breastfeeding due to incorrect latching of the baby's mouth onto the breast causing inadequate milk supply to the baby's mouth and pain in the mother's nipple
• Inability to lick
• Difficulty in eating in public
• Inability to play a wind instrument

Diagnosis

The oral cavity of the child is thoroughly examined before treatment is begun. The shape, size and length of the frenulum and the tongue's range of movement and function is usually examined on a first visit to the dentist.

On lifting the tongue from the floor of the mouth, the baby usually cries. The elasticity of the frenulum is examined. With a normal tongue, the attachment of the frenulum to the tongue should be approximately 1 cm behind the tongue's tip.

In older children, teeth positioning, speech and articulation also need to be examined. Normally alliterating sounds such as "t," "d," "l," "th," and "s" will be difficult for a person with tongue-tie.

Treatment

Treatment involves a team of experts including a speech therapist, dentist, oral pathologist, paediatrician and surgeon or cosmetic surgeon.

In most cases, the frenulum is excised or cut to free the tongue. This is called a frenotomy. Early frenotomy can be carried out in an outpatient department with no need for general anesthesia. In older children, frenotomy needs to be performed under general anesthesia. The operation is usually attempted after the child is one year old.

Frenotomy is a simple, safe and effective surgical procedure. In most cases, the frenulum is cut with scissors after numbing the local area. There is minimal bleeding and pain. However, one complication is infection at the site of the operation.

Further Reading

• All Ankyloglossia Content

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.