Dentistry Commons^™

Evaluation Of Neonatal Ankyloglossia, Ellen M. Ray

Dissertations

Problem Ankyloglossia occurs when the tongue cannot extend past the gums or lips due to frenulum restriction. In breast feeding, proper movement of the tongue around the nipple is hindered causing difficulty for the infant to obtain a proper latch. This may result in slow weight gain (SWG), failure to thrive (FTT), and dehydration due to poor milk production. Evaluating for ankyloglossia is difficult, however, the Hazelbaker Ankyloglossia Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function (HATLFF) may be of benefit.

Method Observational descriptive design utilizing a retrospective medical record review. The HATLFF was utilized in full term neonates suspected of ankyloglossia in …