Clinical Assessment of Maxillary Labial and Mandibular Lingual Frenum and Relationship between the Upper Midline Space and Maxillary Labial Frenum in 3-14 years School going Children of Chennai City.
BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY:
Frenum is a dynamic and changeable structure and subject to variations
in shape, size and location at different stages of growth and development.
Abnormal frenum causes variety of clinical problems such as speech and
deglutition changes which may have influence on growth and development.
The clinician should consider frenal assessment during routine clinical
examination and treatment planning.
The aim of the present study was to clinically assess the maxillary
labial and mandibular lingual frenum and relationship between the midline
diastema and maxillary labial frenum in 3-14 years school going children of
Chennai city.
METHODOLOGY:
A total of 951 children were clinically examined for the maxillary and
mandibular labial frenum attachments and maxillary labial frenum
morphology and midline diastema. All the findings were recorded in the
proforma and data was analyzed statistically.
RESULTS:
The simple frenum (n=822) morphology and mucosal level (602) of
frenum attachment was the most prevalent type of maxillary labial frenum,
N-1 type (870) of frenum is the most prevalent lingual frenum. The level of
gingival insertion moves apically with age. Persistence of papillary type of
frenal attachment causes midline diastema. No association between frenum
morphology and midline diastema, frenum attachment and morphology was
noticed.
CONCLUSION:
It can be concluded that the frenum attachment level in children shift to
a more apical position with increasing age. The persistence of the papillary
type of attachment in the permanent dentition is associated with diastema.
Whereas no association between morphology and attachment, morphology and
diastema. The dentist should give due importance for the labial and lingual
attachment levels and midline diastema during routine clinical examination
and should have a thorough knowledge about when to intervene with the
abnormal frenum and correct treatment planning