Growth assessment among northern Nigerian children using the middle phalanx of the third finger and its correlation with mandibular canine calcification.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Assessment of growth especially skeletal maturation, is considered vital in the treatment planning of orthodontic patients that require jaw modification. Appropriate treatment timing for jaw growth modification will determine the outcome of such intervention especially when clinicians take advantage of the pubertal growth spurt. The need for a quick, reliable and cost effective method using the mandibular canine calcification stages will be of immerse help to the orthodontist.
AIMS:To determine the level of association between mandibular canine calcification stages and skeletal maturation stages.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a prospective cross-sectional descriptive study comprising 74 participants (5-17 years). Skeletal
maturation was evaluated using the middle phalanx of the third finger (MP3), and the Demirjian method was used to stage the mandibular canine calcification stages (MCCS). The chi-square test of association and Spearman Spearman’s correlation coefficient were used to test the association and correlation between MP3 and the MCCS, respectively. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
RESULTS: Overall, there was a statistically significant association between MP3-skeletal maturation and the MCCS (male r=0.836 p value<0.001; female r=0.824 p value<0.001). The stage of acceleration of pubertal growth spurt (MP3-FG) was more associated with MCCS-G for both males and females. The peak pubertal growth spurt (MP3-G) was more associated with MCCS-H for males and MCCSG for females.
CONCLUSION: There was gender variation between the association of the period of peak pubertal growth (MP3-G) and the mandibular canine calcification stage. However, There was a significant correlation between the MP3 developmental stages and MCCS.