The diagnosis of ankyloglossia (restrictive lingual frenulum) and the number of frenotomies in infants have sharply increased, raising concerns among the medical community and the ONE. While some studies suggest benefits of frenotomy on breastfeeding, all emphasize the lack of consensus regarding the definition, diagnosis, and classification of ankyloglossia, as well as the scarcity of prospective data on its impact on breastfeeding, feeding, occlusion, and speech.
This prospective study aims to determine whether lingual frenulum characteristics influence early breastfeeding difficulties and duration, as well as later feeding, occlusion, and speech outcomes. Breastfed newborns are followed from the first days of life (T1) to age 4 years (T7). During the first 3 months, tongue mobility, frenulum characteristics, breastfeeding, maternal pain, and complications are assessed. Several clinical tools are compared to identify the most reliable ones. Frenulum length is measured using calibrated photographs.
Phone follow-ups at 6 months, 1 and 2 years assess feeding outcomes; speech and occlusion are evaluated at 4 years.
This project could provide objective data to guide clinicians in evaluating ankyloglossia and making informed frenotomy decisions, improve breastfeeding support, and help parents make evidence-based choices.