Correlations between dental and skeletal maturity

Lee, Young Mi; Kim, Kwang Won; Yoon, Young Joo

Abstract

To investigate the developmental stages of dental and skeletal maturation by ages and the correlations among dental maturity, skeletal maturity of cervical vertebrae, and that of hand-and-wrist, the author used the cephalograms, orthopantomograms, and hand-and-wrist radiograms of 1055 patients (male 458, female 597) aged 7 to 29 years old. In the cephalograms, the skeletal maturity stages of each bone were mainly assessed by Hassel and Farman's cervical vertebrae maturation indicators (CVMI) method. In the orthopantomograms, the dental maturity stages of each tooth were mainly assessed by Nolla's tooth calcification stages method. In the hand-and-wrist radiograms, the skeletal maturity stages of each bone were mainly assessed by Fishman's skeletal maturity indicators (SMI) method. The results were as follows. 1. There was a high correlation among dental maturity, skeletal maturity of cervical vertbrae, and that of hand-and-wrist in the both sexes (p<0.001). 2. There was a high correlation (r=0.91-0.93) between skeletal maturity of cervical vertebrae, and that of hand-and-wrist. 3. There was a high correlation (r>0.8) between skeletal maturity of hand-and-wrist and maturity of upper and lower canine, first premolar, and second premolar. 4. There was high a correlation(r=0.8) between skeletal maturity of cervical vertebrae and maturity of upper canine. 5. By the age, dental maturity, skeletal maturity of cervical vertebrae, and that of hand-and-wrist were obtained in the both sexes. In summary, dental maturity, skeletal maturity of cervical vertebrae, and that of hand-and-wrist are of sufficient diagnostic worth as an index to predict adolescent growth