The association between chronological age, skeletal maturity and dental maturity
Abstract
Aim
The aim of this study was to analyse the correlation between skeletal and dental maturity.
Materials and methods
The Dental Panoramic Tomogram and Lateral Skull Radiographs of 381 subjects aged between 8.20 years and 17.96 years were examined. Calcification stages of all the teeth on the left hand side and all third molars were determined according to Demirjians 8-stages, whilst the Cervical Vertebral Maturation (CVM) Index was adopted for the assessment of skeletal maturity. Dental age (DA) was determined using the simple weighted average method.
Results
There was no significant difference between DA and chronological age (CA) of the male and female groups. The Spearman rank correlation between CA and CVM was moderate, whilst the correlation between DA and CVM was weak. A moderate correlation was found between the dental calcification stages and CVM for the upper right third molar in males.
Conclusions
The average CA of females at every CVM stage was below that of males, confirming that females undergo earlier skeletal maturation. The similarity between CA and DA confirms that CA can be closely approximated by DA. The low correlations between CA and DA with CVM suggest that these variables should not be used in determining the growth status or potential of the individual.
© 2021 Brenda Lee Cutajar, Fraser McDonald, Graham Roberts, Victoria Lucas, Simon Camilleri, published by Australian Society of Orthodontists Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.