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Background: Frenula are fold-like structures of connective tissue that are inserted into the upper jawbone. This anatomical structure, which often goes unnoticed during the oral exam, presents insertion variations that are associated with diastemas, phonetic, periodontal, and orthodontic issues. Purpose: To identify the type of upper labial frenulum insertion associated with the presence of diastemas, in students aged 8 to 15 who attend the Vicente Anda Aguirre Educational Unit of the Mocha Canton, Ecuador. Methods: A descriptive study with a cross-sectional observational design, with a sample of 300 8-to-15-year-old children, who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, was carried out. A clinical examination and photographic records of the upper labial frenulum were carried out/obtained to analyze the variables: type of insertion and presence of diastemas in relation to age and gender. Through Chi square test and linear regression, the association between these variables was evaluated (p = 0.05). Results: 44.67 % presented an upper lip frenulum with gingival insertion. Penetrating papillary insertion was found in 27.54% and was more closely related to the presence of diastema, with the mild type being the one that occurred most frequently (66.67 %) regardless of sex. Conclusions: Age showed a close relationship with the frenulum insertion site, being its most coronal location at an early age. Therefore, it could be a predisposing factor for the appearance of diastemas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]