Maxillary Frenal Attachment Variations among Dental Students in a Selective Private Dental College: A Cross-Sectional Study

Islam, Md. Nurul; Chakraborty, Subodh Chandra; Rahman, Mohammad Aminur; Zaman, Kashmira; Ahmed, Anam

doi:10.5281/zenodo.17750546

Published July 2022 | Version v1

Journal article Open

Maxillary Frenal Attachment Variations among Dental Students in a Selective Private Dental College: A Cross-Sectional Study

1. Associate Professor, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Saphena Women's Dental College, Dhaka.
2. Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Saphena Women's Dental College, Dhaka.
3. Associate Professor , Department of Prosthodontics, Saphena Women's Dental College, Dhaka.
4. Lecturer, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Saphena Women's Dental College, Dhaka.
5. Associate Professor (CC), Dept. Dental Public Health, University dental College, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Contributors

Contact person:

Islam, Md. Nurul¹

1. Associate Professor and Head, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial orthopedics, Saphena Women's Dental College, 111, DIT Road, Malibagh Dhaka, E-mail: nurul@saphena.edu.bd

Abstarct

Background: The maxillary labial frenum is a mucosal fold that can exhibit various attachment types, potentially influencing oral health, esthetics, and function. Variations in frenal attachment have been associated with midline diastema, periodontal issues, and other clinical concerns. However, data on the prevalence and distribution of frenal attachment types among Bangladeshi dental students are limited.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 192 systemically healthy female dental students at Saphena Women’s Dental College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Participants were examined for maxillary labial frenal attachment type using Placek’s classification. Demographic data, including age and academic phase, were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the distribution of frenal attachment types.
Results: Mean age of the students were 22.49±1.933(SD). Among them, majority of participants were aged 22–25 years (66.1%). The gingival type of frenal attachment was most prevalent (66.1%), followed by mucosal (21.4%), papillary (12.0%), and papilla penetrating (0.5%) types.
Conclusion: Gingival and mucosal types of maxillary frenal attachment are most common among Bangladeshi dental students, consistent with findings in other populations. Routine assessment of frenal attachment is important for early identification of potential esthetic and periodontal issues, and to guide appropriate management.