ANQUILOGLOSSIA EM BEBÊS

Introduction: The tongue is a specialized organ, located in the oral cavity, which has, on its lower surface, a small fold of mucous membrane that connects with the floor of the mouth, called the lingual frenulum or frenulum. In some situations, this tissue may be inserted in an atypical way, which is a congenital alteration called ankyloglossia, commonly called “tonguetie” and usually found in babies. The occurrence of this anomaly has been the subject of many researches, since the alteration of the lingual frenulum carries with it a series of damages to babies. Objective: Describe the clinical presentation of ankyloglossia, as well as its interference in the development of babies. Methodology: The research platforms used for the online search for articles were the following databases: PubMed, Elsevier and Scielo. The inclusion criteria of the studies were original articles in Portuguese and English, and which intrinsically portrayed the theme under study in the abstract or in the body of the text, guided by the descriptors: Ankyloglossia, Freio lingual; Stomatognathic system, combined and isolated. Results: The lingual frenulum does not spontaneously rupture or elongate over time, which makes its evaluation and diagnosis essential. One of the ways to carry out the evaluation of the frenulum is through the Tongue Test, an exam that previously allows the identification and diagnosis of the limitations of the tongue movements caused by ankyloglossia, which facilitates the early treatment of this pathology, thus making it possible to avoid compromise babies' sucking, chewing and talking. Conclusion: Thus, it can be concluded that the evaluation of the lingual frenulum of babies deserves adequate attention, which considers its anatomical and also functional aspects, always aiming at the most adequate diagnosis and treatment plan for a favorable prognosis.