Clinical Guidelines and Management of Ankyloglossia with 1-Year Followup: Report of 3 Cases

Table 2

Hazel baker’s Assessment tool for appearance and function of the tongue.

Appearance	Function
Appearance of tongue when lifted	Lateralization
2: Round or square	2: Complete
1: Slight cleft in tip apparent	1: Body or tongue but no tongue tip
0: Heart or V-shaped	0: None
Elasticity of frenulum	Lift of tongue
2: Very elastic	2: Tip to mid-mouth
1: Moderately elastic	1: Only edges to mid-mouth
0: Little or no elasticity	0: Tip stays at lower alveolar ridge or rises; to mid-mouth only with jaw closure
Length of lingual frenulum when tongue lifted	Extension of tongue
2: >1 cm	2: Tip over lower lip
1: 1 cm	1: Tip over lower gum only; 0: Neither of the above, or anterior or
0: <1 cm	mid-tongue humps
Attachment of lingual frenulum to tongue	Spread of anterior tongue
2: Posterior to tip	2: Complete
1: At tip	1: Moderate of partial
0: Notched tip	0: Little or none
Attachment of lingual frenulum to inferior alveolar ridge	Cupping
2: Attached to floor of mouth or well below ridge	2: Entire edge, firm cup
1: Attached just below ridge	1: Side edges only, moderate cup
0: Attached at ridge	0: Poor or no cup
	Peristalsis
	2: Complete, anterior or posterior
	1: Partial, originating posterior to tip
	0: None or reverse

14 = Perfect score, 11 = Acceptable if appearance item score is 10. Frenectomy is necessary if function score is <11 and appearance score is <8.