94 - Maxillary Frenum Attachment and Anterior Tooth Decay: PBRN Pilot Study

Purpose:   To investigate the association between maxillary frenum position and attachment with anterior tooth decay.

Methods: A total of 319 dental charts of children aged 6 months-3 years were reviewed by five practitioners of the South Texas Oral Health Network (STOHN) for level of maxillary frenum attachment and stage of dental decay on maxillary anterior teeth. Additional data collected included insurance type and age at exam.  Data was examined for correlation between frenum attachment, presence of maxillary caries and insurance type.

Results:   There was no maxillary anterior decay in 54% of patients.  Class III frenum attachment was seen in 29.5% of patients; class IV in 28.5%.  78% patients had Medicaid funding.  No significant relationship was found between insurance coverage type, frenum attachment and caries severity.

Conclusions:  Since no relationship exists between frenum attachment and caries severity, a more conservative approach to prophylactic wide-spread frenotomies is warranted for this age-group.

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