Tongue-tie: Management of a Short Sublingual Frenulum
Paul A. Levy MD1
1 Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
Editors: Henry M. Adam, MD.
Tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, historically has been believed to cause speech defects, as well as breastfeeding difficulties and dental problems. St. Mark wrote, "The string of his tongue was loosed and he spoke plain," and midwives in the 15th century reportedly kept a fingernail sharp to cut the frenula of all newborns in an attempt to prevent possible speech problems. Only within the last century has it become acceptable not to perform frenulotomy for children who have ankyloglossia.
During early development the tongue is fused to the floor of the mouth. Cell death and resorption free the tongue, with the frenulum left as the only remnant of the initial attachment.
