Authors : Goyal S, Goyal S, Chopra V
DOI : 10.18231/j.jco.2018.015
Volume : 2
Issue : 2
Year : 2018
Page No : 29-38
Objective: Objective of the study was to compare the developmental stages of mandibular second and third molars for assessing the level of skeletal maturation.
Study design: A retrospective and cross-sectional study was conducted. Pre-treatment lateral cephalograms and panoramic radiographs (OPG) of 130 males and 161 females aged 9–18 years were evaluated. Demirjian Index (DI) for mandibular second and third molars developmental stages and the cervical vertebrae maturation indicators (CVMI) suggested by Hassel and Farman for skeletal maturation were used.
Results: Significant association was observed between mandibular molars maturation levels and the cervical vertebrae maturation (Pearson’s contingency coefficient = 0.735 in females and 0.757 in males for third molars; and 0.726 in females, and 0.672 in males for second molars). Correlations were higher for third molars. CVMI stage 2 (acceleration phase of pubertal growth spurt (PGS) corresponded to third molar DI stage B in females and stage C in males, while in second molar DI stage E in females and stage F in males was associated with CVMI-2. On the other hand, the third molar DI stages C and D corresponded to CVMI stages 3 and 4 in both genders. The second molar DI stage F in females and stage G in
males corresponded to CVMI stage 3 (active PGS).
Conclusion: Mandibular third molars development showed stronger association with skeletal maturity assessment as compared to second molars. Mandibular second and third molars can be reliably used for skeletal maturity assessment. Second molar DI stages E and F in females; and F and G in males indicate the active growth period. Third molar DI stage B in females and C in males can indicate the acceleration phase of PGS. Completion of the crown of third molar indicates deceleration of PGS.
Keywords: Cervical vertebrae maturation, Growth maturity, Demirjian Index, Mandibular molar