Assessing the Frenulum
The tongue may be anchored anteriorly toward the tip. poste- riorly at the base or both. Infants with an anterior lingual an kyloglossia have been detected while crying with a wide-open mouth Genna, 2013). The tongue may appear flat and often heart shaped and the tip square or notched on protrusion. The tip of the tongue does not extend past or only slightly be- yond the alveolar ridge. With a posteriorly tight frenulum, the tongue may appear typically shaped but lacks normal lateral mobility or the ability to well from the floor of the mouth A high, narrow or bubble palate nay indicate a potential frenu lum variation (Genna. 2013. Palmer. 1998). During fetal development as the three plates of the hard palate merge, the normal movement of the tongue produces the typical broad arch of the palate. Restriction of tongue movement produces an at palate shape. Another clue during oral assessment of the infant is a nursing blister Found on either the upper or lower lip.
blis ters can develop due to compensational pressure used to hold the breast in the mouth.