Establishing a diagnostic tool for assessing optimal treatment timing in Indian children with developing malocclusions

Abstract

Objective: To interrelate chronological age, cervical vertebrae maturational stage and dental calcification stages and to establish latter as first level diagnostic tool to estimate timing of pubertal growth spurt. Materials and Methods: Sample derived from pretreatment panaromic and lateral cephalometric radiographs of patients 8-14 years old. Study sample divided into three groups depending upon Angle’s molar relation: Group I, Group II, Group III. According to chronological age, into: Group A: 8-11 years Group B:11-14 years, further separating males and female subjects in each group. Demirjian et al method was used to assess dental maturity and for skeletal maturity the New Improved Version of Cervical Vertebrae Maturation Method by Baccetti, Franchi and Mc Namara. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software package. Chi Square test and Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients measured the association between skeletal maturity indicators and dental calcification stages and statistical significance tested. Results&Conclusions: In females, permanent mandibular second molar Stage E signified circumpubertal phase corresponding with skeletal age CVMS II and for males, it was permanent mandibular first premolar stage E. Early orthodontic interventions for Angle’s Class I and Class II malocclusions should be performed at the circumpubertal period represented by CVMS II in Indian children and for Angle’s Class III malocclusion, facemask therapy beneficial in the prepubertal phase. Females showed higher significant correlation among skeletal and dental calcification stages compared to males.