If you are unaware of this term (lucky enough), Ankyloglossia is a condition in which the kid’s tongue is tied to the bottom of their mouth. In common, it’s also known as tongue tie.
It is a natural defect, primarily in infants or adults who develop it later in life.
Having four different classes, the condition varies from mild to severe.
In this blog, we will share the levels of tongue tie. Tongue tie symptoms, tongue tie classification, treatment, and much more. So, stay connected to this blog to add some knowledge.
Additionally, Tongue Tie Phoenix has a team of professionals specializing in diagnosing and treating tongue and lip ties in kids and adults.
So, if you are also facing such a condition, contact us today and get it treated to avoid tongue-tie issues later in life.
Read: 5 Issues You May Face with Lip Tie in Later Stages of Life
What is a Tongue Tie?
A tongue tie is a condition in which the tongue a thick connective tissue attaches the tongue to the lower part of the mouth.
It occurs when the lingual frenulum, a thin tissue strip, is shorter than usual. It not only restricts the movement and functionality of the tongue.
Ankyloglossia comes with breastfeeding challenges for mothers and infants both.
In the initial days, parents mostly neglect to find out why their baby is not latching correctly.
It is one of the significant symptoms of having a tongue tie. Other symptoms include:
- Unsettled or fussy behavior of babies in nursing
- Frequent or long feeds
- Clicking noises
- Excessive weight loss
- Faltering growth and more.
The symptoms vary for kids and mothers and depend on the type of level of the tongue tie. So, let’s explore different levels of tongue tie.
4 Classes of Tongue Tie
Ankyloglossia is classified into four different levels based on Kotlow’s assessment. The classes are divided according to the signs and symptoms of the defect and the severity of the signs.
So let’s dig in:
Class 1: Mild Ankyloglossia
Class 1 tongue tie is a mild condition that prevents issues such as breastfeeding, speaking, and eating if treated early.
In addition, it goes unnoticed being temperate, where a fragile piece of tissue attaches the tongue to the lower part.
The shorter tissue attached at the tip of the tongue is merely 12-16 mm, making it difficult for pediatricians to diagnose it.
Furthermore, being mild, it is easy to treat as the process of frenectomy with laser takes no time.
Class 2: Moderate Ankyloglossia
The second level of tongue tie is a little behind the tip of the tongue. In moderate Ankyloglossia, the tongue has a frenulum of about 8-11mm.
Class 2 tongue tie is visible and causes signs and symptoms that are a source of discomfort while feeding, eating, and speaking.
Moreover, it can lead to speaking disabilities, especially in kids with the sounds of a few alphabets, such as r, l, d, m.
So, please seek help to treat it at a time to prevent it from getting severe.
Class 3: Severe Ankyloglossia
The third level of Ankyloglossia is closer to the base of the tongue and has measurements of labial frenulum 3-7 mm attached to the lower part of the mouth.
It is evident and comes with the actual signs of tongue tie.
Class 3 tongue tie is easily treatable with the surgery commonly known as frenectomy, in which a small piece of tissue is removed under the tongue using specific tools or lasers.
Class 4: Complete Ankyloglossia
The last and the most severe class of tongue tie is class 4, complete Ankyloglossia. The Pediatricians quickly diagnose the issue at this level while mothers state the signs and symptoms.
Furthermore, they are easy to treat with the same surgery used in all other three levels.
Class 4 tongue tie treatment also includes post-surgery exercises to keep the tongue from detachment.
In addition, it involves revisiting the professionals to confirm the ease and normality of tongue functioning.
How do you diagnose tongue tie in a child?
Tongue ties with different classes are easily diagnosable in babies by the health provider in which the pediatrician asks you about the health history and physically examines the condition thoroughly.
Your health provider will check the tongue and its movements.
They may look for the possible causes of your baby’s breastfeeding challenges.
In addition, they may suggest diagnosing the other issues through an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist after the diagnosis.
Final thoughts:
To sum up, having any class of Ankyloglossia is dangerous as it can lead to other oral health complications.
All four classes vary depending on the signs and symptoms.
Only a specialist can properly diagnose and suggest the treatment for any class.
FAQs
What is the scale of tongue-tie?
Scaling categorizes the Ankyloglossia based on the proximity of the frenulum attached to the tongue tip.
It has four classes based on this scale, ranging from mild to complete Ankyloglossia.
What is a Level 3 tongue-tie?
Level 3 tongue tie is a severe condition of Ankyloglossia in which the frenulum is thick, stiffened, and attached to the bottom of the mouth from the middle.
What is a 2nd-degree tongue tie?
2nd-degree tongue tie is a moderate level of tongue tie with a frenulum behind the tip of the tongue and comes with the evident signs and symptoms.
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