Year : 2021

Volume : Volume 12

Issue : Issue 5

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Ranjith Raveendran
ranjidr@gmail.com

Abstract

Background: An understanding of growth events is of primary importance in the practice of clinical orthodontics. A number of growth indicators are available to the orthodontist in day-to-day practice; changes in the cervical vertebra (CV) and middle phalanges (MP) of the middle finger (MP3) being the commonly assessed growth indicators. Apart from the five stages of MP3 growth based on epiphyseal changes, a new stage is developed. Aim: To compare the modified MP3 stages and the CV as growth indicators among prepubertal and pubertal individuals. Materials and Methods: Lateral cephalogram for CV and a standard intraoral periapical radiograph of middle phalanx of the third finger (MP3) were taken for 45 boys and girls aged between 9 years and 17 years and compared. Results: Both MP3 and CV maturation indices (CVMIs) stages were comparable and 100% similar to both sexes in 9, 12, 16, and 17 years of age. There were slight changes across both sexes in other age groups. The correlation between modified MP3 stages and CVMI stages was statistically analyzed using the Chi-square test. A highly significant correlation (P < 0.0001) was obtained between modified MP3 and CVMI stages in all the subjects examined. Conclusions: Modified MP3 stages can be used as a primary reliable method of skeletal maturity assessment which compare harmoniously with CVMI stages in all ages and sex studied. Modified MP3 stages can be used as an alternative to CVMI or hand wrist in assessing skeletal maturity in the orthodontic office. Recording MP3 using standard dental X-ray film is an accurate, simple, practical, and economical method of skeletal maturity assessment.

Keywords: Growth indicator, Cervical vertebrae maturation indices, Middle phalanges 3, Orthodontics.