Evaluation of skeletal and dental maturity indicators and assessment of cervical vertebral maturation stages by height/width ratio of third cervical vertebra

ObjectivesThis study was designed to evaluate: Relationship between skeletal maturity indicators and a dental maturity indicator for assessment of pubertal growth in patients and; Feasibility and reliability of using height/width ratio of the third cervical vertebra for objective assessment of CVMI stage.MethodsThe study was conducted on 120 children in the age group of 8–16 years, comprising of 60 males and 60 females. Informed consent and due precaution for radiation safety were followed. Lateral cephalogram for assessment of cervical vertebrae maturation stages, OPG for evaluating mandibular canine developmental stages, Radiograph of middle phalanx of middle finger of right hand for MP3 maturation were recorded. Height/Width ratio of third cervical vertebra in all subjects was also calculated.ResultsSignificant correlation was observed between MP3 stages and CVMI stages, whereas no correlation was observed between skeletal maturity indicators and dental developmental stages of mandibular canines. A highly significant correlation was observed between CVMI stage and height/width ratio of C3 vertebra in all subgroups of total population.ConclusionsSkeletal maturity indicators show significant correlation amongst them but not with dental maturity indicator used in the study. CVMI stage can be assessed objectively by calculating the height/width ratio of C3 vertebra.