Association of Frenum Attachments with Age and Gender in a Sample of Iraqi People: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The labial frenum is a thin fold of oral mucosa that contains muscle fibers. It connects the lips to the tissues and bones around the upper and lower teeth. Objective: To assess the various types of labial frenal attachments in the upper and lower jaws, as well as their relationship with age and gender, in a sample of the Iraqi population. Methods: The study includes 1,939 subjects (978 males and 961 females) with an age range of 10 to 70 years. These individuals visited the Periodontics Department of Dentistry at Al-Rafidain University College in Baghdad, Iraq, from October 2021 to April 2023. The patients were categorized into age subgroups: 10–30 years, 31–50 years, and 51–70 years. Descriptive statistics estimate frequencies and percentages, and the Chi-square test compares the results. Results: The total number of labial frenum attachments, encompassing both upper and lower attachments, varies between males and females. There are 1397 gingival attachments (36.02%), 1793 mucosal attachments (46.24%), 567 papillary attachments (14.62%), and 121 papillary penetrating attachments (3.12%) in both sexes. In both sexes, there is a significant correlation between age and different upper and lower labial frenum attachment categories. Additionally, there is a significant correlation between gender and the upper and lower labial frenum attachment categories. Conclusions: In the maxilla, the gingival attachment was more prevalent, followed by the mucosal attachment. However, we detect the mucosa attachment in the mandible, followed by the gingiva attachment. There was a significant relationship between frenum attachment, age, and gender.