Prevalence of tongue tie in 12- 14 years old students of Tehran city, 2003

Due to different complications of tongue tie, this study aimed at determining the prevalence of tongue tie in 12 – 14 years olds students of Tehran city in 2003. Methods & Materials: This descriptive study was done on 4900 students randomly selected and studied by questionnaire and clinical examinations. The examinations were done by dental mirror under daylight. The individuals who were unable to point the tongue tip or touch the palate with the tip of the tongue when the mouth was semi opened, were considered to be tongue tied. The data were analyzed by SPSS 11.0, descriptive statistics and chi – square test. Tongue tie prevalence was determined as 2.33% (114 cases). 57 (50%) of them were male and 57 ones (50%) were females. 67.6% of the patients showed crowding of upper anterior teeth, 30.7% crowding of lower anterior teeth, anterior and posterior crossbite was observed in 38.7% and 27% respectively, 6.3% and 17.1% presented anterior and posterior open bite, 17.1% with gingival recession in lower anterior teeth, 19.8% with diastema among lower central teeth. 41.4% had complaint from stiffness at shoulders, 20.7% from speaking disorders, 1.8% from breathing disorders and 28% of food impactions. 46.8%, 15.3% and 37.9% of them showed Cl I, Cl II and Cl III respectively with no normal occlusion being found. The prevalence of tongue tie among Tehran students was higher compared to some studies. As different meanings are mentioned about tongue tie, this difference can be justified.