Author’s reply

Abstract

We thank Dr Celikoglu for his interest in our article and for the comments and matters he raised. We mentioned that a late developing dentition with an insufficiently developed lateral incisor might affect the migration of the developing canine and result in its impaction.1Zilberman Y. Cohen B. Becker A. Familial trends in palatal canines, anomalous lateral incisors, and related phenomena.Eur J Orthod. 1990; 12: 135-139Crossref PubMed Scopus (112) Google Scholar Such an effect was attributed to the guidance theory of the lateral incisor. The root of a late developing lateral incisor will be too rudimentary to provide the critical guidance for the developing canine at the early stages; thus, the canine develops more mesially and palatally in the ensuing early stages of palatal displacement.2Becker A. Etiology of maxillary canine impactions.Am J Orthod. 1984; 86: 437-438Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (51) Google Scholar Dr Celikoglu criticized the inclusion of subjects with missing teeth in our sample, since hypodontia has been linked to delayed tooth development. Until now, research in this area has been minimal, and there is no consensus in the literature regarding this matter; some studies have confirmed the link,3Rune B. Sarnäs K.V. Tooth size and tooth formation in children with advanced hypodontia.Angle Orthod. 1974; 44: 316-321PubMed Google Scholar, 4Uslenghi S. Liversidge H.M. Wong F.S. A radiographic study of tooth development in hypodontia.Arch Oral Biol. 2006; 51: 129-133Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (42) Google Scholar, 5Kan W. Seow W. Holcombe T. A case-control study of dental development in hypodontic and hyperdontic children.Pediatr Dent. 2010; 32: 127-133PubMed Google Scholar, 6Tunc E. Bayrak S. Koyuturk A. Dental development in children with mild-to-moderate hypodontia.Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2011; 139: 334-338Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (31) Google Scholar whereas others disagreed.7Odagami Y. Kida A. Inoue M. Kurosu K. Dental age of children with congenitally missing permanent teeth.Jpn J Pedodontics. 1995; 33: 91-98Google Scholar, 8Lozada P.A. Infante C. Estudio de la maduraci on dental y edad dental en individuos con ausencia cong_enita de dientes permanentes comparados con individuos sin ausencia cong_enita dental.Int J Dent Anthropol. 2001; 2: 24-29Google Scholar Regarding the relationship between dental development and sagittal and vertical skeletal jaw relationships, a few studies were conducted in this area. The study investigating sagittal discrepancies and dental development was published after our study had been carried out.9Celikoglu M. Erdem A. Dane A. Demirci T. Dental age assessment in orthodontic patients with and without skeletal malocclusions.Orthod Craniofac Res. 2011; 14: 58-62Crossref PubMed Scopus (27) Google Scholar Secondly, in studies conducted in our department comparing dental and skeletal ages in different skeletal sagittal and vertical jaw relationships, no difference was found regarding dental age in any studied group.10Kanaan R. The relationship between chronological, skeletal and dental ages according to anteroposterior jaw relationship [thesis]. Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan2009Google Scholar, 11Kanaan R. Al-Khateeb S. Gh Aljamal Abu Alhaija E. Dental and skeletal ages in different skeletal jaw relationships.Eur J Pediatr Dent. 2012; (in press)Google Scholar The difference in results between the studies of Celikoglu et al9Celikoglu M. Erdem A. Dane A. Demirci T. Dental age assessment in orthodontic patients with and without skeletal malocclusions.Orthod Craniofac Res. 2011; 14: 58-62Crossref PubMed Scopus (27) Google Scholar and Kanaan et al10Kanaan R. The relationship between chronological, skeletal and dental ages according to anteroposterior jaw relationship [thesis]. Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan2009Google Scholar, 11Kanaan R. Al-Khateeb S. Gh Aljamal Abu Alhaija E. Dental and skeletal ages in different skeletal jaw relationships.Eur J Pediatr Dent. 2012; (in press)Google Scholar could be attributed to the sample size and characteristics (age, male-to-female ratio, ethnic background, and so on). Once more, we highly appreciate Dr Celikoglu’s valuable comments; they certainly guide and present areas for further research linking various types of malocclusions and canine impactions with dental development. Questioning the findings about canine displacementAmerican Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial OrthopedicsVol. 141Issue 4PreviewWe read with great interest the article on dental age assessment in patients with maxillary canine displacement in the December 2011 issue.1 We congratulate the authors for their efforts in the preparation of this article. Full-Text PDF