*What is tongue tie?
---- Tongue tie (ankyloglossia) is when the tissue called frenulum, which connects the tongue with the floor of the mouth, is shorter than normal.
*What are the causes of tongue tie disease?
----This condition is congenital. During the embryological development process before birth, the front 2/3 of the tongue develops in the 4th week in the womb. At this stage, the tongue has not yet separated from the floor of the mouth and become free. In the following weeks, the tongue becomes free from the floor of the mouth and becomes mobile, and is attached to the floor of the mouth only with a ligament called the frenulum. As a result of the disorder that occurs during this period, the frenulum that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth either cannot be fully released, or it becomes thick with cell proliferation, preventing the tongue from being released, and tongue tie occurs.
*How can it be understood that babies have tongue tie? How is tongue tie diagnosed?
---- Generally, the way patients present to us is that the tongue cannot grasp the nipple well in babies, the sucking is not good enough, and in cases of more adherent tongue tie, they cannot feed adequately and lose weight. . Again, constant drooling from the mouth due to insufficient swallowing of saliva, excessive sweating while sucking, and non-healing wounds on the mother's nipple may be symptoms of tongue tie. Tongue tie can often be noticed during crying.
Tongue tie can be seen under a simple examination light and sometimes with the help of a tongue depressor. The tongue has taken the shape of a "V". The child with tongue tie is asked to perform movements such as sticking out the tongue, lifting it up and touching the palate, and since the patient cannot do these fully, the diagnosis is confirmed.
In the evaluation of articulation disorder, especially after the age of 3, the patient is asked to make sounds in which the front part of the tongue is actively used, such as "l, r, s, t, z". The patient has difficulty in making these sounds, and the diagnosis is made.
Tongue Tie Surgery
*Does tongue tie in babies go away on its own?
Some children with tongue tie have this structure. Some loosening may occur over time. Monthly check-up is required.
* How is tongue tie treated in babies? l is done?
For tongue tie, which does not cause any problems in the first months of life, regular patient follow-up may be sufficient. After excluding other possible conditions that may cause nutritional problems, a surgical intervention called frenotomy can be performed in cases where various complaints occur.
*How is tongue tie cut?
Frenotomy is the most frequently used procedure in the treatment of tongue tie. The structure where this procedure is performed is poor in terms of blood vessel and nerve structure content, so it is accepted that conditions such as pain or excessive bleeding may occur very rarely due to the procedure. In this traditional method, the structure called frenulum is intervened to release the tongue. In this way, incisions (cuts) parallel to the floor of the mouth are made to the tense tongue tie using a sterile scissors or a surgical instrument. The bleeding that occurs is usually in the form of a trickle and can be controlled with light pressure applications. In most cases, there is no need for anesthesia for this procedure and breastfeeding can be done after the procedure. Children older than 6 months may need anesthesia for this procedure.
*How long does tongue tie surgery take?
The sublingual tie operation takes about 1-2 minutes in outpatient clinic conditions for young babies, and about 10-15 minutes in the operating room for older children.
*Does tongue tie prevent speech in babies?
Sublingual ligament does not prevent speech. It causes articulation disorder. Especially in the period after the age of 3, the patient is asked to make sounds in which the front part of the tongue is actively used, such as "l, r, s, t, z". He/she has difficulty making sounds and is diagnosed.
*Which department looks after the sublingual ligament?
The treatment and follow-up of the sublingual ligament is performed by pediatric surgeons.
*Is sublingual tie seen in adults?
Cases that are not noticed during infancy and childhood may be diagnosed late in adulthood.
*What should be taken into consideration after tongue tie surgery?
In order to ensure complete recovery, various tongue exercises should be performed with a speech therapist after tongue tie surgery. � recommended. Care should be taken as the longer recovery period of some patients may cause nutrition to be delayed. It is recommended to perform various oral exercises and stretching movements for the baby several times a day for several weeks. It should not be forgotten that these exercises are important practices in terms of the success of the procedure.
*At what age should the tongue tie be cut?
As soon as possible to avoid problems during the period of sucking and learning to speak. It is necessary to cut the tongue tie. If there is a sucking problem, the best approach is to cut the tongue tie with local anesthesia in the first days of life. For babies who do not have a sucking problem, it is appropriate to do this procedure 8-9 months before the teeth appear or the baby starts talking.
*What causes tongue tie wound?
*What causes sublingual tie?
In a child with tongue tie The functions of the tongue will be affected. Sucking, eating problems, speech and pronunciation disorders, poor oral hygiene and dental problems due to the deterioration of the oral cleaning function, and tongue deformity may occur.
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