Portuguese Parents' Literacy on Ankyloglossia.

Purpose: To evaluate Portuguese parents' knowledge about ankyloglossia, examine how it may affect child development, and describe diagnostic and treatment practices of the condition.

Methods

During March 2025, a 6-section multiple-choice questionnaire, based on an Australian study, assessed Portuguese parents' knowledge of ankyloglossia both in person at a university pediatric dental clinic and online. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, using Fisher's exact tests with Monte Carlo simulations.

Results

This study collected 259 valid responses, predominantly from the central region of Portugal (76.1%). More than half of the participants (58.7%) were familiar with the term "ankyloglossia", primarily associating it with issues in speech (91.4%), chewing (70.8%) and breastfeeding (66.1%). The main source of information about ankyloglossia was healthcare professionals (77.9%). Approximately one-fifth of participants (20.1%) had a child diagnosed with ankyloglossia. Diagnoses were typically based on professional opinion, breastfeeding difficulties and tongue appearance, with physicians, dentists, speech therapists and lactation consultants being the primary diagnosticians. Surgical treatment, mainly laser frenectomy, was performed in 88.5% of cases, with significant involvement from dentists and speech therapists. Parents reported high satisfaction with treatment outcomes and the information provided.

Conclusion

This study found a moderate level of awareness about ankyloglossia among Portuguese parents and caregivers. Clearer diagnosis and treatment protocols and further research are essential to improve care and enhance parental knowledge.