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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 (χ2) 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.