Tongue motility in those who have undergone a lingual frenectomy, a retrospective comparison of frenectomies in early life versus adolescents
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Tongue motility in those who have undergone a lingual frenectomy, a retrospective comparison of frenectomies in early life versus adolescents
IRAS ID
315551
Contact name
Ashana Gupta
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Ankyloglossia also known as tongue tie is diagnosed in 4% to 11% of new born babies. This poses an issue with feeding, oral hygiene and gum development. Treatment for this, is a simple release of the tongue tie – also known as lingual frenectomy.
There is a lack of research available to address the queries around the ideal timing for tongue tie releases.
This pilot research aims to discuss:Qu 1. Does release of tongue tie in new born babies (up to twelve weeks old) compared to adolescents achieve any difference in tongue motility?
Qu 2. Does muscle memory play a role in achieving the full range of tongue motility?
With this work we can create more robust research to educate referrers and parents on the ideal age for tongue tie release to maximise tongue movement, therefore function. The observations we made is that children attending for a tongue tie release above the age of six months, have poorer tongue motility due to the muscle memory of the restricted tongue.
The eligible participants would be those in the existing database of patients who have had a tongue tie release. We will be comparing tongue motility in adolescents (children above ten years) and new borns (up to twelve weeks old). Naturally, new born babies will not be compliant to tongue motility tests therefore we will invite children who had a tongue tie release in the initial twelve weeks of life, eight to ten years ago.
Participants will be invited to attend a clinical examination. The oral surgery consultant will assess tongue motility using the quick tongue tie assessment tool and patients will be invited to share their experience.
The study will be conducted in a clinical environment and we estimate the study to take six to twelve months to complete.REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/EM/0247
Date of REC Opinion
15 Dec 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion