Tongue restrictions are more common than previously thought in patients presenting to pediatric dental practices, and systematic screening for the condition should be performed during intraoral examinations. Symptom presentations and tongue elevation vary between patients, so shared decision-making and proper assessments will help prevent undertreatment and overtreatment. Tongue elevation grading is an easy and reliable test of tongue mobility after calibration of providers and should replace protrusion as the standard test of tongue function. More research, including research in other settings, is needed to validate a screening and assessment tool for tongue restrictions so children and adults with this condition do not go undiagnosed.
New Screening Tool For Tongue Restrictions
If the author has provided a handout, video or website URL, the buttons below will give you access to this additional information.
Richar Baxter, DMD, Ashley Lashley, BS and Nicolas Rendell, PhD
Tongue restrictions are more common than previously thought in patients presenting to pediatric dental practices, and systematic screening for the condition should be performed during intraoral
This study was intended to determine the prevalence of tongue restrictions in a pediatric population and develop a screening tool for tongue-tie symptoms.