Ankyloglossia: the adolescent and adult perspective.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to characterize examination findings and functional limitations due to ankyloglossia in adolescents and adults and to evaluate frenuloplasty in this group. Study design A prospective study was conducted of 15 individuals with ankyloglossia aged 14 to 68 years. Baseline symptoms were recorded by questionnaire, and tongue mobility measures were compared with that of 20 control subjects. Six subjects were reassessed postfrenuloplasty.


RESULTS
Thirteen of 14 patients with uncorrected ankyloglossia (93%) noted symptoms including speech problems (50%) and mechanical limitations (57%), such as difficulty licking the lips. Mean tongue protrusion and elevation at baseline measured 15.5 +/- 6.0 mm and 13.6 +/- 8.0 mm, respectively, for patients and 32.0 +/- 3.9 mm and 30.3 +/- 4.9 mm for control subjects (P < 0.001). Postfrenuloplasty, tongue function improved both subjectively and objectively in 6 of 6 patients, with a mean gain of 9.2 mm for protrusion (P < 0.05) and 13.0 mm for elevation (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Symptoms related to ankyloglossia are prevalent in this age group and respond favorably to frenuloplasty.
Lalakea
M Lauren
ML
Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, 751 S Bascom Ave, San Jose, CA 95128, USA. lalamd@aol.com
Messner
Anna H
AH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008035:Lingual Frenum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome