PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to ascertain whether the positive relationship exists among the frenum length, the tongue movement and the speech and to present the normal range of tongue movement and guidelines for the choice of surgery, observation if necessary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 180 patients were evaluated. We divided 180 patients into 6 groups by age. Each group was separated as follows; the age of 2.5-4, 5-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-15, 16-18. We measured the frenal length, the range of tongue motion and evaluated the speech so that we really questioned about the positive relationship between the tongue-tie and speech. We let the patient exercise the protrusive, both(right, left) laterotrusive, superior movement of the tongue. During these movements, we measured the distance between the vermilion border and the tongue tip. We also measured the distance from the tongue tip to the point contacting the upper lip with dorsum of the tongue during the maximal protrusive movement of the tongue. Three linear measurements of the anterior, inferior segment of the tongue, including the lingual frenum, are made. These measurements are as follows: 1. Distance A. Free anterior portion of the tongue from the point of frenular insertion to the tongue tip. 2. Distance B. The distance from the initiating point of the lingual frenum to the point connecting the two sublingual caruncles to the lingual frenum perpendicularly. 3. Distance C. The distance from the point contacting the line crossing the sublingual caruncles with the lingual frenum to the terminating point of the lingual frenum. We transform three linear measures into a statistical ratio, A/(A+B+C), representing the length of the free portion of the tongue compared with the total sublingual dimensions. In addition, we assessed the speech through Picture Consonant Articulation Test (PCAT) and tried to find out the relationship between the length of the lingual frenum and speech. CONCLUSION: As people are born, they have small and restricted tongue. As people grow old, tongue motions are more liberate, and unrestricted and they can speak so freely. Therefore we suggest that until age 5, oral and maxillofacial surgeons postpone the surgery if not urgent, evaluate the maximal lingual motions and PCAT according to this article and observe their changes.
Humans ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Lingual Frenum* ; Lip ; Reference Values ; Tongue*

We have examined 20 tongue-tie patients who had been operated the lingual frenectomy in Department of Oral & Maxillofacial surgery, Pusan National University for the effect of the lingual frenectomy on the tongue motion and speech, and divided patients into groups by age. Each group was separated as follows ; the age of 5-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-15, and 16-18. We measured the frenal lengh, the range of tongue motion and evaluated the speech pre- and postoperatively. The preoperative patient groups have larger tongue tips and smaller lingual frenums than normal ones. In the preoperative patient group, there was significant obstacle of the protrusive and superior movement of the tongue. The exception was the laterotrusive movement on both sides. There was the lower value of the Picture Consonant Articulation Test(PCAT) in the preoperative 5 to 6 yearold group compared with normal group. In other age groups, there was no significant difference. The range of postoperative PCAT in all age groups has become as similiar as that of normal group. The 5 to 6 year-old group which had significant difference in PCAT was improved in PCAT. In conclusion, we propose that the PCAT as well as anatomical tongue size and functional tongue movement is the basis of the indication of lingual frenectomy and the 5-6 year-old is the optimal time of the lingual frenectomy for improvement of the tongue movement and the speech.
Busan ; Child ; Humans ; Lingual Frenum ; Surgery, Oral ; Tongue*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the shapes of lingual polished surfaces in lower complete dentures formed by polished surface impressions and to provide reference data for use when manufacturing edentulous trays and lower complete dentures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients with mandibular edentulism were studied. After lower wax dentures were fabricated, wax was removed from the lingual side of the wax denture and a lingual polished surface impression was obtained with tissue conditioner. The definitive denture was scanned with a three-dimensional scanner, and scanned images were obtained. At the cross-sections of the lingual frenum, lateral incisors, first premolars, first molars, and anterior border of the retromolar pads, three points were marked and eight measurements were taken. The Kruskal-Wallis test and a post hoc analysis with the Mann-Whitney test were performed. RESULTS: Each patient showed similar values for the same areas on the left and right sides without a statistically significant difference. The height of the contour of the lingual polished surface at the lingual frenum was halfway between the occlusal plane and lingual border, it moved gradually in a downward direction. The angle from the occlusal plane to the height of the contour of the lingual polished surface was increased as it progressed from the lingual frenum towards the retromolar pads. CONCLUSION: The shape of the mandibular lingual polished surface was convex at the lingual frenum, lateral incisors and gradually flattened towards the first molars and retromolar pads.
Bicuspid ; Dental Occlusion ; Denture, Complete* ; Dentures ; Humans ; Incisor ; Lingual Frenum ; Molar

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Lingual Frenum ; physiopathology ; Tongue Diseases ; physiopathology ; therapy

BACKGROUND: Ankyloglossia or tongue-tie is a congenital anomaly characterized by an abnormally short lingual frenum. Its prevalence in the newborn population is approximately 4%. Its mode of inheritance has been studied in some articles, but no conclusion has been established. Also, no relevant report has been published in Korea. This study was conducted to elucidate the genetic inheritance of ankyloglossia via pedigree analysis. METHODS: In this study, 149 patients with no other congenital anomaly who underwent frenuloplasty between March 2001 and March 2010 were studied. Pedigrees were made via pre- or post-operative history taking, and patients with uncertain histories were excluded. In the patient group that showed a hereditary nature, the male-to-female ratio, inheritance rate, and pattern of inheritance were investigated. RESULTS: One hundred (67.11%) of the patients were male and 49 (32.89%) were female (male-female ratio=2.04:1). Ninety-one (61.07%) patients reported no other relative with ankyloglossia, and 58 (38.93%) patients had a relative with this disease. The inheritance rate was 20.69% in the 58 cases with a hereditary nature. In the group with no family history of ankyloglossia, the male-female ratio was 3.79:1, which significantly differed from that of the group with a family history of ankyloglossia. X-chromosome mediated inheritance and variation in the gene expression was revealed in the pedigree drawn for the groups with hereditary ankyloglossia. CONCLUSIONS: Ankyloglossia has a significant hereditary nature. Our data suggest X-linked inheritance. This study with 149 patients, the first in Korea, showed X-linked inheritance in patients with a sole anomaly.
Female ; Gene Expression ; Genes, X-Linked ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Lingual Frenum ; Male ; Mouth Abnormalities ; Pedigree ; Prevalence ; Wills