Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Tongue function characteristics in infants experiencing breastfeeding difficulties and changes in breastfeeding after frenotomy procedures

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Clinical Oral Investigations Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

The aims of the study were to describe tongue function in infants experiencing breastfeeding difficulties and to examine changes in breastfeeding after frenotomy procedures.

Materials and methods

Mothers, and their infants, facing difficulties in breastfeeding were referred to the Vilnius University hospital Žalgirio clinic after assessment of breastfeeding quality by a lactation specialist. Anatomy evaluations included the type of ankyloglossia, tongue function, and the need for a frenotomy. All mothers completed the breastfeeding questionnaire twice, once during the referral consultation and 1 month later. The total breastfeeding hindrance score was calculated before and after the frenotomy.

Results

Fifty infants were included in the study and their mean age was 29.6 days (min age 1 day and max 78 days). The male to female ratio was 1.8:1.0. Of all infants, 70% had severe lingual function alterations and their mothers were facing issues in breastfeeding. After the frenotomy, there was a significant reduction in breastfeeding hindrance in infants who had disturbed function and aberrant anatomic characteristics. It was found that for type II ankyloglossia, the frenotomy procedure was significant more (p = 0.002) beneficial, than for type I ankyloglossia. After the frenotomy, there was a significant improvement in nine out of 14 criteria of breastfeeding (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Frenotomy procedures had a positive effect on improving breastfeeding.

Clinical relevance

Current study analyses issues with breastfeeding. Dental practitioners and pediatricians should be familiar with this topic, as early and timely minimal invasive surgical intervention has a significant impact for better comfort of the mothers and continuation of breastfeeding.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. WHO | Exclusive breastfeeding for six months best for babies everywhere. In: WHO. https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2011/breastfeeding_20110115/en/. Accessed 23 Oct 2019

  2. Gianni ML, Bettinelli ME, Manfra P, Sorrentino G, Bezze E, Plevani L, Cavallaro G, Raffaeli G, Crippa BL, Colombo L, Morniroli D, Liotto N, Roggero P, Villamor E, Marchisio P, Mosca F (2019) Breastfeeding difficulties and risk for early breastfeeding cessation. Nutrients 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11102266

  3. Patel S, Patel S (2016) The effectiveness of lactation consultants and lactation counselors on breastfeeding outcomes. J Hum Lact Off J Int Lact Consult Assoc 32:530–541. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334415618668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Bin-Nun A, Kasirer YM, Mimouni FB (2017) A dramatic increase in tongue tie-related articles: a 67 years systematic review. Breastfeed Med Off J Acad Breastfeed Med. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2017.0044

  5. O’Shea JE, Foster JP, O’Donnell CP et al (2017) Frenotomy for tongue-tie in newborn infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 3:CD011065. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011065.pub2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Sethi N, Smith D, Kortequee S, Ward VMM, Clarke S (2013) Benefits of frenulotomy in infants with ankyloglossia. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 77:762–765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2013.02.005

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Mills N, Keough N, Geddes DT, Pransky SM, Mirjalili SA (2019) Defining the anatomy of the neonatal lingual frenulum. Clin Anat N Y N. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.23410

  8. Segal LM, Stephenson R, Dawes M, Feldman P (2007) Prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of ankyloglossia. Can Fam Physician 53:1027–1033

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Geddes DT, Langton DB, Gollow I, Jacobs LA, Hartmann PE, Simmer K (2008) Frenulotomy for breastfeeding infants with ankyloglossia: effect on milk removal and sucking mechanism as imaged by ultrasound. Pediatrics 122:e188–e194. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-2553

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Webb AN, Hao W, Hong P (2013) The effect of tongue-tie division on breastfeeding and speech articulation: a systematic review. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 77:635–646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2013.03.008

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Rowan-Legg A (2015) Ankyloglossia and breastfeeding. Paediatr Child Health 20:209–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Jensen D, Wallace S, Kelsay P (1994) LATCH: a breastfeeding charting system and documentation tool. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs JOGNN 23:27–32. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.1994.tb01847.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kotlow LA (1999) Ankyloglossia (tongue-tie): a diagnostic and treatment quandary. Quintessence Int Berl Ger 1985 30:259–262

  14. Amir LH, James JP, Donath SM (2006) Reliability of the hazelbaker assessment tool for lingual frenulum function. Int Breastfeed J 1:3. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4358-1-3

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Martinelli RL de C, Marchesan IQ, Gusmão RJ, et al (2015) The effects of frenotomy on breastfeeding. J Appl Oral Sci Rev FOB 23:153–157. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-775720140339

  16. Del Ciampo LA, Del Ciampo IRL (2018) Breastfeeding and the benefits of lactation for women’s health. Rev Bras Ginecol E Obstet Rev Fed Bras Soc Ginecol E Obstet 40:354–359. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0038-1657766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Muldoon K, Gallagher L, McGuinness D, Smith V (2017) Effect of frenotomy on breastfeeding variables in infants with ankyloglossia (tongue-tie): a prospective before and after cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 17:373. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1561-8

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Figueiredo B, Dias CC, Brandão S, Canário C, Nunes-Costa R (2013) Breastfeeding and postpartum depression: state of the art review. J Pediatr 89:332–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2012.12.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Brown A, Rance J, Bennett P (2016) Understanding the relationship between breastfeeding and postnatal depression: the role of pain and physical difficulties. J Adv Nurs 72:273–282. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.12832

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Rocha IS, Lolli LF, Fujimaki M, et al (2018) Influence of maternal confidence on exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age: a systematic review. Cienc Saude Coletiva 23:3609–3619. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-812320182311.20132016

  21. Lima MG de S, Araujo M da CM, Freitas RL, et al (2019) Evaluation of the lingual frenulum in newborns using two protocols and its association with breastfeeding. J Pediatr https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2018.12.013

  22. Manipon C (2016) Ankyloglossia and the breastfeeding infant: assessment and intervention. Adv Neonatal Care Off J Natl Assoc Neonatal Nurses 16:108–113. https://doi.org/10.1097/ANC.0000000000000252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Pransky SM, Lago D, Hong P (2015) Breastfeeding difficulties and oral cavity anomalies: the influence of posterior ankyloglossia and upper-lip ties. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 79:1714–1717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2015.07.033

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Ghaheri BA, Cole M, Fausel SC, Chuop M, Mace JC (2017) Breastfeeding improvement following tongue-tie and lip-tie release: a prospective cohort study. Laryngoscope 127:1217–1223. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.26306

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Wong K, Patel P, Cohen MB, Levi JR (2017) Breastfeeding infants with ankyloglossia: insight into mothers’ experiences. Breastfeed Med Off J Acad Breastfeed Med 12:86–90. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2016.0177

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Angela Tether Research Grant Facilitator from University of British Columbia for editorial assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Žalgirio str. 117, LT-08217, Vilnius, Lithuania

    Ruta Rasteniene & Alina Puriene

  2. Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, 2199 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z3, Canada

    Jolanta Aleksejuniene

Authors
  1. Ruta Rasteniene
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alina Puriene
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jolanta Aleksejuniene
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ruta Rasteniene.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in the study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the National Lithuanian Ethics Board committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

The parents of all participants have given their written informed consent.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rasteniene, R., Puriene, A. & Aleksejuniene, J. Tongue function characteristics in infants experiencing breastfeeding difficulties and changes in breastfeeding after frenotomy procedures. Clin Oral Invest 25, 4871–4877 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-021-03793-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-021-03793-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation