Dental maturity in Finns and the problem of missing teeth.
Development of teeth was studied from 2483 dental panoramic tomograms of 1651 healthy Finns ranging in age from 2 to 25 years. Dental maturity was assessed using a method based on developmental stages of 7 left mandibular teeth. We give sex-specific tables of maturity scores as a function of ages and of ages as a function of maturity scores. Also generated are percentile graphs for visual evaluations of dental maturity in children and adolescents. Since maturity scales do not tolerate any missing data, a great limitation for their use, we have developed linear regression models for predicting the formation stages of each of the 7 mandibular teeth. It was easiest to predict the formation stage of the mandibular first molars (correct in 87% within the study material) and most difficult to predict second molars and second premolars (correct in 69% and 70%, respectively). We expect the data and formulae presented in this study to prove useful in research and in clinical and forensic dentistry.
Nyström
M
M
Department of Pedodontics and Orthodontics, University of Helsinki, Finland. Marjatta_Nystrom@Helsinki.Fi
Aine
L
L
Peck
L
L
Haavikko
K
K
Kataja
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth / Q000379:methods; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008954:Models, Biological; D008963:Molar / Q000502:physiology; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012737:Sex Factors; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000503:physiopathology*