Correlations between Cervical Vertebral Maturation (CVM) and Dental Development in Thai Cleft Patients.

OBJECTIVE

To examine correlations between cervical vertebral maturation stages (CVMs) and dental development stages, and cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) stage 6 and completion of root formation of mandibular third molar in Thai cleft patients.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Lateral cephalograms of 366 cleft subjects aged 7-9 years were assessed for CVMs using Baccetti method. Calcication stages of all left mandibular teeth within each CVMs were assessed from panoramic films using Demirjian method.

RESULTS

Spearman rank correlation coefficients comparing CVMs and teeth were 0.51-0.79 (p<0.001). Second molar had the highest and central incisor had the lowest correlations. In CVMs 6, 2.9% of third molars had completed root formation. However, only CVMs 6 could be predicted from third molar stage G that had a high likelihood ratio (30.94).

CONCLUSION

Dental development was highly correlated with CVM in clefts. Third molar stage G could predict completed growth of mandible in individual patients, but it should be combined with other maturation indicators.