Relationship between Dental Calcification and Cervical Vertebrae Maturation in a Nigerian population

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine the relationship between dental calcification and cervical vertebrae maturation
in a Nigerian population.
Methods: The material consisted of lateral cephalometric and panoramic radiographs of 336 children aged 5 to 18 years (153
males and 183 females). Dental calcification stages were determined using panoramic radiographs according to the method
described by Demirjian, while the stages of cervical vertebrae maturation were determined using lateral cephalometric
radiographs and the method described by Baccetti et al.,(2005). Standard descriptive analyses were computed for
chronological and dental ages concerning cervical vertebrae maturation stages. Spearman rank order correlations were
performed to determine the associations between dental calcification stages and cervical vertebrae maturation stages.
Results: Good correlations ranging from 0.475 to 0.743 were observed between dental calcification stages and cervical
vertebrae maturation stages. The tooth most highly correlated with cervical vertebrae maturation was the mandibular second
molar in both genders. Females were more advanced in chronological age, dental age, and skeletal maturity than males.
Conclusion: This study suggests that dental calcification stages may be used as a preliminary measure in the determination
of skeletal maturity