Research

Lingual Frenuloplasty With Myofunctional Therapy: Exploring Safety And Efficacy In 348 Cases

HIGHLIGHTS: Ankyloglossia is a condition of altered tongue mobility due to the presence of restrictive tissue between the undersurface of the tongue and the floor of mouth. Potential implications of restricted tongue mobility (such as mouth breathing, snoring, dental clenching, and myofascial tension) remain underappreciated due to limited peer‐reviewed evidence. Here, we explore the safety and efficacy of lingual frenuloplasty and myofunctional therapy for the treatment of these conditions in a large and diverse cohort of patients with restricted tongue mobility

Impact Factor Award

Date Published: August 2019

Toward A Functional Definition Of Ankyloglossia: Validating Current Grading Scales For Lingual Frenulum Length And Tongue Mobility In 1052 Subjects

PURPOSE: Alterations of the lingual frenulum may contribute to oromyofacial dysfunction, speech and swallowing impediments, underdevelopment of the maxillofacial skeleton, and even predispose to sleep breathing disorder. This study aims to assess the utility of existing instruments for evaluation of restricted tongue mobility, describe normal and abnormal ranges of tongue mobility, and provide evidence in support of a reliable and efficient measure of tongue mobility.

Date Published: January 2017

Determinants Of Probable Sleep Bruxism In A Pediatric Mixed Dentition Population: A Multivariate Analysis Of Mouth vs. Nasal Breathing, Tongue Mobility, And Tonsil Size

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Pediatric sleep bruxism was associated with impaired nasal breathing, restricted tongue mobility, and tonsil hypertrophy.
• Restricted tongue mobility was found to be an independent risk factor for bruxism in children.
• Tonsil hypertrophy, restricted tongue mobility, and nasal obstruction may have synergic effects on pediatric bruxism.

Date Published: January 2021

Assessment of Nasal Breathing Using Lip Taping: A Simple and Effective Screening Tool

OBJECTIVES: Subjective assessment of nasal obstruction with patient-reported outcome measures such as visual analogue scale and NOSE score may be limited in chronic mouth breathing subjects who are not consciously aware of nasal breathing difficulties. This study investigates a simple objective screening tool to assess the capacity for comfortable nasal breathing that is based on sealing the lips and mouth with tape and assessing whether the subject can breathe comfortably through the nose for up to three minutes. Method: Cross-sectional, multi-center cohort study with 663 participants (ages: 3-83 years, 50.5% female). Lips were gently sealed using MicroPore paper tape; timer was used to assess how long the participants were able to breathe comfortably through the nose for up to 180 seconds

Date Published: February 24, 2020

How Tongue Mobility Changes Face And Jaw Development

HIGHLIGHTS: We eat and speak with them, but our tongues may be even more important than we think. In a condition called ankyloglossia, also known as tongue-tie, the tongue is tethered more tightly than normal to the bottom of the mouth by the lingual frenulum. While this is usually considered relatively harmless, new work from dental and sleep experts at UCLA and Stanford suggests tongue mobility is critical for proper development of the jaw and facial tissues … In the study, researchers evaluated tongue mobility in 302 patients using the Tongue Range of Motion Ratio and the Kotlow free tongue measurement. All measurements were performed in triplicate to ensure consistency and accuracy. Each participant also had dental casts made and X-rays taken to capture anatomical features of the teeth, mouth, and face.

Date Published: September 9, 2020

Lingual And Maxillary Labial Frenuloplasty With Myofunctional Therapy As A Treatment For Mouth Breathing And Snoring

AUTHORS: Chirag Govardhan | Janine Murdock | Leyli Norouz-Knutsen | Sanda Valcu-Pinkerton | Soroush Zaghi

HIGHLIGHTS: Chronic mouth breathing may adversely affect craniofacial development in children and may result in anatomical changes that directly impact the stability and collapsibility of the upper airway during sleep. Mouth breathing is a multifactorial problem that can be attributed to structural, functional, and neurological etiologies, which are not all mutually exclusive. While therapeutic interventions (myofunctional, speech and swallowing, occupational, and craniosacral therapy) may address the functional and behavioral factors that contribute to mouth breathing, progress may sometimes be limited by restrictive lingual and labial frenum that interfere with tongue and lip mobility. This case report explores the case of a three-year-old girl with mouth breathing, snoring, noisy breathing, and oral phase dysphagia that was successfully treated with lingual and labial frenuloplasty as an adjunct to myofunctional therapy. Within four days of the procedure, the patient had stopped snoring and demonstrated complete resolution of open mouth breathing.

Date Published: March 10, 2019

Distraction Osteogenesis Maxillary Expansion (DOME) For Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients With Narrow Maxilla And Nasal Floor

AUTHORS: Audrey Yoon | Christian Guilleminault | Soroush Zaghi | Stanley Yung-Chuan Liu

HIGHLIGHTS: This study correlates objective and subjective measurements associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to define the efficacy of Distraction Osteogenesis Maxillary Expansion (DOME) to treat adult OSA patients with narrow maxilla and nasal floor.

Date Published: January 1, 2020

Assessment Of Posterior Tongue Mobility Using Lingual-palatal Suction: Progress Toward A Functional Definition Of Ankyloglossia

AUTHORS: Soroush Zaghi

Date Published: January 1, 2021

Lacking Consensus: The Management of Ankyloglossia in Children

AUTHORS: Bobak A Ghaheri | Dale A Tylor | Soroush Zaghi

Original Article Link

Date Published: November 2020

Myofunctional Therapy To Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review And Meta-analysis

AUTHORS: Macario Camacho, MD, 1 Victor Certal, MD, 2 Jose Abdullatif, MD, 3 Soroush Zaghi, MD, 4 Chad M. Ruoff, MD, RPSGT, 1 Robson Capasso, MD, 5 and Clete A. Kushida, MD, PhD1

Date Published: May 1, 2015

Safety And Efficacy Of Maxillary Labial Frenectomy In Children: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study

AUTHORS: Macario Camacho, MD, 1 Victor Certal, MD, 2 Jose Abdullatif, MD, 3 Soroush Zaghi, MD, 4 Chad M. Ruoff, MD, RPSGT, 1 Robson Capasso, MD, 5 and Clete A. Kushida, MD, PhD1

Date Published: May 1, 2015

Vocal Fatigue And Tension In Singers And Professional Voice Users: The Possible Role Of Functional Ankyloglossia

Migraine Patients Find Pain Relief in Electrical Brain Stimulation

AUTHORS: Soroush Zaghi

Date Published: April 19, 2012

Clinical Consensus Statement: Ankyloglossia In Children

Date Published: April 14, 2020

Speech Production In Young Children With Tongue-Tie

AUTHORS: Holly Salt | Mary Claessena | Timothy Johnsto | Sharon Smart

Date Published: July 2020