A comparative evaluation of dental calcification stages and skeletal maturity indicators in North-Indian children

BACKGROUND Many researchers have reported relationships between the calcification stages of individual teeth and skeletal maturity. A few studies are available in the literature about Indian populations. In view of this fact, this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the dental calcification stages and skeletal maturity stages among North-Indian individuals. The objective of this study was to determine whether dental calcification can be used as a first-level diagnostic tool for assessment of skeletal maturity. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study participants included (60 males, 60 females) ranging from 7 to 13 years. A total of 120 dental panoramic radiographs and hand-wrist radiographs were obtained and analyzed. Calcification stages of the mandibular dentition (canines, first premolars, second premolars, and second molars) were rated according to the system of Demirjian et al. Skeletal maturity indicators stages were determined using the Fishman method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Bivarate correlation ranged from 0.58 to 0.75 for males and 0.73 to 0.84 for females. Canine showed the highest correlation in males and second molar showed the highest correlation in females. Canine calcification Stage H represent prepeak of the pubertal growth spurt in male patients. Calcification Stage G for second molar represents the prepeak and Stage H represents the peak of pubertal growth spurt in females.