DO I HAVE TONGUE TIE. THIS IS THE QUESTION ASKED BY MOST OF MY FRIENDS VISITING OUR PRACTICE. THE ANSWER FOR WHETHER I HAVE TONGUE TIE OR NOT IS...........
1. EVERY ONE OF US HAVE LINGUAL FRENULUM NORMALLY. WE CALL TONGUE TIE ONLY WHEN THE LINGUAL FRENUM IS SHORT AND TIGHT.
2. TONGUE TIE IS NOT DIAGNOSED ONLY BY SEEING (PHYSICALLY). IT HAS TO BE DIAGNOSED ONLY AFTER FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT.
3. TONGUE LIKE THAT OF OTHER MOVABLE PARTS IN OUR BODY LIKE HANDS AND LEGS, IT HAS TO FREE TO DO ITS FUNCTION. JUST LIKE TIED LEGS CAN RUN FAST, TIED TONGUE (TONGUE TIE) CANT DO ITS FUNCTION EFFICIENTLY.
FUNCTIONS OF TONGUE - TONGUE TIE BABIES - DIFFICULTY IN BREASTFEEDING
BREASTFEEDING
SUCKLING/SUCKING
SWALLOW
CHEWING ( ROLLING THE FOOD & LIQUIDS)
SPEECH/TALK
HELP IN BREATH/SLEEP
CLEANS THE MOUTH- AVOID FOOD STAGNANT, THEREBY REDUCE GINGIVAL DISEASES & DENTAL CAVITIES
LICKING ICE CREAM/ SOCIAL ACTIVITIES (KISSING)
4. FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT IS TO FIND ALL THIS FUNCTIONS ARE DONE EFFICIENTLY IN THE WAY IT HAS TO BE DONE.
5. ASK THE PATIENT TO PUT THE TONGUE OUT - IN- SIDE WAYS-BACK WARDS - SUCTION HOLD- SWEEP THE MOLAR TEETH ETC. SEE THE RESTRICTION OF TONGUE MOVEMENTS AND COMPENSATIONS
6. AFTER ASKING FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS AND PERFORMING THE TEST PHYSICALLY WE COME TO A DIAGNOSIS - TONGUE TIE.
7. THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TONGUE TIE ( CLASSIFICATION).
8. NOT ALL FUNCTIONS ARE IMPAIRED IN AN INDIVIDUAL. DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL HAVE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS DUE TO TONGUE TIE. ONLY AFTER FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT AND QUESTIONING THE PATIENT HIMSELF WILL BE ABLE TO CORRELATE THE SYMPTOMS WITH TONGUE TIE.
9. HUMANS SUPERPOWERS - THEY COMPENSATE WELL.
10. SO COMPENSATIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED PROPERLY AND RELATE IT TO TONGUE TIE
MANAGEMENT - USUALLY DONE IN CHAIR SIDE USING LOCAL ANESTHESIA
TOOLS - LASERS/SCISSORS
UN CO OPERATIVE KIDS/ SPECIAL KIDS UNDER GENERAL ANESTHESIA.