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Open AccessReview
Assessment and Management of Maxillary Labial Frenum—A Scoping Review
by
Ryan Kinney
Ryan Kinney ,
Richard C. Burris
Richard C. Burris
Richard Collin Burris, Jr. is a student doctor at Roseman University College of Dental Medicine. He [...]
Richard Collin Burris, Jr. is a student doctor at Roseman University College of Dental Medicine. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Biochemistry from Texas State University in 2020 and a Master of Science in Medical Genetics and Genomics from Tulane University School of Medicine in 2021. His primary research interest lies in pediatric dentistry. Richard has contributed to several research projects and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD).
,
Ryan Moffat
Ryan Moffat and
Konstantinia Almpani
Konstantinia Almpani
Dr. Konstantinia Almpani completed a D.D.S. degree and a three-and-a-half-year M.Sc. program in and [...]
Dr. Konstantinia Almpani completed a D.D.S. degree and a three-and-a-half-year M.Sc. program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece. She has also received certificates in Esthetic Dentistry and Oral Rehabilitation from New York University, College of Dentistry. In 2021, she completed a 3-year Dental Clinical Research Fellowship in NIDCR’s Craniofacial Anomalies and Bone Regeneration Section. From 2021-2024 she held an Adjunct Faculty position in the Clinical Outcomes and Research Education section of the College of Dental Medicine of Roseman University of Health Sciences. Currently, Dr. Almpani works for the NIH as an Assistant Research Physician. Dr. Almpani’s research is focused on the field of orthodontics and craniofacial development.
*
College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences, 10920 S River Front Pkwy, South Jordan, UT 84095, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Diagnostics 2024, 14(16), 1710; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14161710 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 27 June 2024
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Revised: 28 July 2024
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Accepted: 2 August 2024
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Published: 6 August 2024
Abstract
Background: The maxillary labial frenum (MLF) is a soft tissue fold connecting the upper lip to the alveolar process. Abnormal attachment can cause periodontal, functional, and esthetic problems. Differential diagnosis is important and can prevent unnecessary interventions. This study aims to summarize the current evidence on the assessment and management of abnormal MLF. Methods: A thorough review of the literature was conducted. Five online databases were searched for relevant peer-reviewed human studies. Article screening and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers using predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Information about article type, study design, participants’ characteristics, interventions, and outcomes was extracted and synthesized. Results: 52 articles met the review criteria. MLF is a dynamic structure characterized by a wide normal morphological variation. MLF assessment in infants has not been standardized. Studies in pre-adolescents reported a change in the thickness and position of the MLF observed over time, resulting in a lower prevalence of abnormal MLF morphology. Studies in adolescents and adults reported variable differential diagnosis criteria. Lasers appear as the most advantageous frenectomy modality. Conclusions: There is a need for more objective MLF diagnostic protocols and treatment guidelines, which could prevent unnecessary surgical interventions.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Kinney, R.; Burris, R.C.; Moffat, R.; Almpani, K.
Assessment and Management of Maxillary Labial Frenum—A Scoping Review. Diagnostics 2024, 14, 1710.
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14161710
AMA Style
Kinney R, Burris RC, Moffat R, Almpani K.
Assessment and Management of Maxillary Labial Frenum—A Scoping Review. Diagnostics. 2024; 14(16):1710.
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14161710
Chicago/Turabian Style
Kinney, Ryan, Richard C. Burris, Ryan Moffat, and Konstantinia Almpani.
2024. "Assessment and Management of Maxillary Labial Frenum—A Scoping Review" Diagnostics 14, no. 16: 1710.
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14161710
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