Labial Frenum and Its Role In Midline Diastema A Narrative Review

AbstractIntroduction: The intricate interplay between oral anatomy and dental anomalies continues to fascinate researchers. Among these, association between the labial frenum and the maxillary midline diastema stands as a compelling subject of investigation.Aim : This narrative review aims to analyse the association between the labial frenum and midline diastema. This review explores the epidemiological, anatomical, etiological, and clinical treatment aspects of this association.Methods: Research publications were searched for 4 months on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar and the articles with the terms labial frenum, midline diastema, treatment timing were collected.Results: A total of 40 articles were collected and they were further used to formulate this review.Discussion: An abnormally large labial frenum is positively associated with a maxillary midline diastema. Epidemiological studies reveal varying prevalence rates of midlinediastema across different populations and age groups. Treatment modalities include surgical techniques, electrocautery, and lasers, each with its advantages and considerations. Frenectomy is mostly recommended after the eruption of permanent canines and maybe done priorly or following orthodontic therapy depending on the diastema severity.Conclusion: At present, there are no standardized national or international protocols for diagnosing and managing an abnormal frenum.