Ankyloglossia inheritance: like father, like son

The pathogenesis of tongue tie and the major or minor expression of the genotype that causes it are not known because it can occur with inheritances X-linked dominant or, in some cases, recessive. Four families with tongue tie in different generations, accompanying infants with breastfeeding problems are presented. In all cases there was a lack of prior knowledge of this situation in patients and family members.

In our medical office, 326 sibling groups were attended. In 133 of them, no frenectomy was performed, in 96 groups one of the brothers underwent surgery, in 91 the two brothers were operated and in 6, three brothers. Prevalence in siblings of 44.9% was found.

The underdiagnosis of ankyloglossia is conditioned by the unawareness of some consequences of this pathology: dental malposition, alterations of the spine, speech disorders, respiratory problems and apnea, among others. Large samples are needed to study the transmission mechanisms and clarify the pathogenesis of this inherited malformation, which affects more than 10% of the population.