Evaluation of dentists' knowledge and attitudes regarding ankyloglossia in children.

OBJECTIVE

Ankyloglossia, known as tongue-tie, is a common congenital malformation that restricts the movement of the tongue. It is seen in 4.8% of newborns and is more prevalent in males compared to females. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of dentists in Turkey regarding ankyloglossia.

METHODS

Our survey was conducted online with dentists in Turkey who examine and treat patients. The data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences V.21 software. Frequency distributions and percentages were examined, and relationships between nominal variables were assessed using the χ2 test. A significance level of p < 0.05 was accepted.

RESULTS

The results showed that 76.14% of the participants could recognize ankyloglossia in children, and 87.14% believed it to be a congenital anomaly. In addition, 91.49% of the participants thought that ankyloglossia negatively affects breastfeeding, and 98.34% believed that it could cause speech disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study emphasizes the importance of increasing awareness of ankyloglossia and the significance of early diagnosis and treatment.