Correlation between Maxillary Canine Calcification and Skeletal Maturation.

INTRODUCTION: Skeletal maturation assessment has a great role in many health professions especially in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics. Functional appliances have proved to be more effective when used at the peak of mandibular growth, rather than before.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the calcification stages of permanent maxillary canine are useful to assess skeletal maturity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, samples were derived from panoramic radiographs and lateral cephalograms of 300 subjects (137 males and 163 females) with their age ranging from 9 to 18 years. Dental maturity {Demirjian Index (DI)} and skeletal maturity {Cervical Stages (CS)} were assessed from radiographs. The Pearson chi-square test (χ(2)) and Sakoda adjusted Pearson contingency coefficient (C*) were calculated to determine the correlation between DI and CS.

RESULTS: A highly significant association (C* = 0.851, p<.001for males and 0.879, p<.001 for females) was found between DI and CS. DI stage E coincided with CS2 (pre-peak of pubertal growth spurt) & DI stage F coincided with CS3 (peak of pubertal growth spurt) for all the subjects. DI stage H corresponded to CS5 and CS6 (end of peak of pubertal growth spurt).

CONCLUSION: A highly significant association was found between DI and CS. Maxillary canine DI stages could be useful to assess skeletal maturity.