Ankyloglossia: a morphofunctional investigation in children.
OBJECTIVE
To provide diagnostic criteria for ankyloglossia in children by anatomical measurements; to investigate the correlation between severity of ankyloglossia and a series of morphofunctional findings; to evaluate the potential mismatch between a clinical suspect of ankyloglossia and the authentic anatomical diagnosis.


METHODS
Two different techniques of anatomical measurements and a clinical evaluation of a series of morphofunctional findings were performed.


METHODS
In 200 children referred for evaluation and treatment of tongue-tie, the length of the frenulum and the interincisal distance were measured in maximum opening of the mouth and with the tip of the tongue touching the palatal papilla. Occlusion, type of bite, tongue resting position, swallowing mechanism, oral floor mobility, frenulum insertion modality and speech were investigated. Any correlation between these morphofunctional findings and anatomical measures was investigated.


RESULTS
Children with a frenulum length more than 2 cm and an interincisal distance of more than 2.3 cm were normal. In both measurements, significant correlations among mean values and other variables were observed. Moreover, three levels -- mild, moderate and severe -- of ankyloglossia were assessed.


CONCLUSIONS
Length of frenulum and interincisal distance allow an assessment of severity of ankyloglossia in children. Ankyloglossia was not associated with infantile swallowing.
Ruffoli
R
R
Dipartimento di Morfologia Umana e Biologia Applicata, Facolta di Medicina e Chirurgia, Universita di Pisa e IFC-CNR, Pisa, Italy. r.ruffoli@med.unipi.it
Giambelluca
M A
MA
Scavuzzo
M C
MC
Bonfigli
D
D
Cristofani
R
R
Gabriele
M
M
Giuca
M R
MR
Giannessi
F
F
D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008035:Lingual Frenum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D014059:Tongue / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000503:physiopathology