Maxillary Labial Frenum in Preschool Children: Variations, Anomalies and Associated Factors

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Oral Anatomy
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• The maxillary labial frenum (MLF) is a crucial oral structure with variations that can impact function.
• Understanding the prevalence and associated factors of MLF variations in young children is essential for appropriate clinical management.
• Existing research on MLF morphology and attachment in preschool populations is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of morphological and attachment variations of the maxillary labial frenum (MLF) in preschool children.
• To identify demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors associated with MLF variations.
• To inform clinical decision-making regarding potential interventions.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 1,313 preschool children (0-5 years) in southern Brazil.
• Data collection included questionnaires on child characteristics and clinical examination of the MLF.
• MLF morphology and attachment were assessed using established classification systems.

Main Results:

• Simple MLF (63.8%) and gingival attachment (51.1%) were the most common patterns.
• Morphological abnormalities affected 21.6% and attachment abnormalities 25.4% of children.
• Abnormalities were more prevalent in girls, the white ethnic group, and pacifier users, and decreased with age.

Conclusions:

• Demographic and behavioral factors are significantly associated with MLF morphology and attachment variations.
• The observed decrease in prevalence with increasing age suggests that early surgical interventions may be unnecessary overtreatment.
• Findings highlight the importance of age-appropriate assessment of MLF variations.