The maxillary interincisal diastema and its relationship to the superior labial frenum and intermaxillary suture.

From the analysis of histories, dental casts, and cephalograms of 471 children of the Burlington Growth Centre sample, interrelationships between the degree of spacing, crowding, diastema and frenum and suture type were derived and the following conclusions were drawn: 1. Suture type remains more constant through development than frenum type. 2. Frenum type is reasonably constant but may change from low to medium or high attachments, but only to a higher level of attachment. 3. Frenum and suture type are related; frenum types 5 and 6 (low attachment) are associated with spacing and with suture types 3 and 4. 4. The primary factors contributing to maxillary diastema appear to be degree of spacing or crowding in most cases, the specific types of sutures and frenum making a minor contribution.