Diastema size and type of upper lip midline frenulum attachment.

BACKGROUND Diastema is a space between teeth. The most often is maxillary midline diastema between upper central incisors. One of the main causes of diastema is enlarged upper lip frenulum attachment. The aim of the study was to assess frenulum attachment in patients with diastema and investigate if type of upper lip frenulum attachment has an impact on the width of diastema. MATERIALS AND METHODS Upper lip frenulum attachment was assessed clinically in two groups of adult patients: study group with diastema and control group without diastema. Moreover the width of diastema was measured on plaster models of dentition. The results were statistically analysed. RESULTS In study material the most often was diastema in range more than 2 mm. There were statistically significant differences between study and control group in upper lip frenulum attachment (p < 0.05). Normal frenulum attachment (mucosal or gingival) was typical for group without diastema, but enlarged frenulum (papillary or papilla penetrating) was characteristic for diastema group. Type of frenulum had significant (p < 0.05) impact to the width of diastema. Small diastema (≤ 2 mm) more often coexisted with normal frenulum. Oversized frenulum was observed in the big diastema (> 2 mm). CONCLUSIONS Patients with diastema have more often oversized upper lip frenulum attachment then patients without diastema. The most often type of frenulum in patients with diastema is papillary and papilla penetrating type. Type of upper lip frenulum attachment has an impact to the size of diastema.