Ankyloglossia in the infant and young child: clinical suggestions for diagnosis and management

Abstract

Since the recommended time for a child's first dental visit is early, it is essential that pediatric dentists be familiar with all possible pathologies occurring during this early period of life. The parents of infants and toddlers who notice in their child a "tongue-tie" (ankyloglossia) are likely to turn first to their pediatric dentist for advice and help. Treatment options such as observation, speech therapy, frenotomy without anesthesia, and frenectomy under general anesthesia have all been suggested in the literature. The purposes of this report are to describe ankyloglossia, its clinical significance, and the timing of treatment. The frenotomy procedure is presented for the pediatric dentist with clinical suggestions for the diagnosis and management of ankyloglossia.