Protocols for the clinical evaluation of the tongue frenulum: systematic review of the literature
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Keywords

Ankyloglossia
frenulum of the tongue
Frenectomy
revision

How to Cite

1.
Parra-Reyes D, Sanzana-Leiva A. Protocols for the clinical evaluation of the tongue frenulum: systematic review of the literature. Rev Ter [Internet]. 2025 Jul. 31 [cited 2025 Aug. 2];19(2):32-48. Available from: https://revistaterapeutica.net/index.php/RT/article/view/232

Abstract

The main objective of this systematic review of the literature is to present the existing protocols that clinically evaluate the tongue tie in infants. The search was carried out in PUBMED, Google Scholar, SCIELO, Science Direct, COCHRANE and BVS databases with the Mesh terms of “Ankyloglossia”, “Lingual frenulum”, and “Frenectomy”. Being selected a total of 15 original articles from 1993 to 2020 with various protocols for clinical evaluation of the frenulum of the tongue. When evaluating the different existing protocols, it was identified that the most widely used worldwide is the ATLFF, there were also references to the Kotlow Assessment Method, to protocols proposed by Amir, Teja-Ángeles, Martinelli and the Bristol Tongue Assessment Tool, among others. The existing protocols in the literature have limitations regarding the age of application. Despite the existing information, there is still controversy regarding the alterations of the lingual frenulum and its consequences for the functions of the stomatognathic system and few studies with good levels of scientific evidence that support the established behaviors as demonstrated by this integrative review. It is essential to have reliable evaluation methods and trained professionals. Therefore, more well-designed clinical studies are needed for the detailed analysis of the parameters used by health professionals during the evaluation of tongue-tie in infants using the Tongue Test

https://doi.org/10.33967/rt.v19i2.232
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Copyright (c) 2025 David Parra-Reyes, Andrés Sanzana-Leiva

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