Ruta Rasteniene1, Alina Puriene2, Jolanta Aleksejuniene3. 1. Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Žalgirio str. 117, LT-08217, Vilnius, Lithuania. Rasteniene.rua@gmail.com. 2. Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Žalgirio str. 117, LT-08217, Vilnius, Lithuania. 3. Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, 2199 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z3, Canada.
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.
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.
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