Dental maturity amongst various vertical and sagittal facial patterns.

OBJECTIVE To compare the mean dental maturity amongst three vertical facial patterns (short, average and long anterior facial heights) and also amongst two sagittal facial patterns (skeletal class I and II) in orthodontic patients. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from August to October 2008. METHODOLOGY Data was retrospectively retrieved from pretreatment orthodontic records of patients who visited the orthodontic clinic. The sample was divided into three vertical groups, namely short, average and long anterior facial types, and two sagittal groups, namely skeletal class I and II. Dental development was assessed using the Demirjian's system. One way ANOVA and independent sample t-test were used to find any difference in dental maturity amongst vertical and sagittal facial patterns, respectively. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference in dental maturity amongst the three vertical facial patterns (p=0.111) and also amongst the two sagittal groups (p=0.975). Statistically significant gender dimorphism (p < 0.001) was seen amongst boys and girls for dental maturity with girls being more advanced than boys in their dental development. CONCLUSION Dental maturation in the three vertical and the two sagittal groups showed no statistically significant difference in our studied population sample and thus need no variations in treatment initiation timings. However, girls should be treated earlier as they are dentally more advanced than boys.