title: Correlation among chronologic age, skeletal maturity, and dental age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the correlation among chronologic age, skeletal maturity, and dental age in reference to both sexes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 380 subjects (147 males and 233 females) between 7 and 17 years of age, skeletal maturity was assessed using the cervical vertebral maturation stages described by Baccetti et al. Dental age was determined using the Demirjian method. The correlation between skeletal maturity and chronologic age on one side and between skeletal maturity and dental age on the other was assessed with Spearman rank correlation coefficients. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess the correlation between chronologic and dental age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For both sexes, significant correlations among chronologic age, skeletal maturity, and dental age were found. The mandibular first premolar had the highest correlation with skeletal maturation in both sexes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As skeletal maturity and dental age are significantly correlated, tooth development may be used to assess a patient's skeletal maturity at an early age.
authors.affiliation: Section of Dentistry, Department of Surgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rashna H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Sukhia
authors.forename: Mubassar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth / Q000379:methods*; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000254:growth & development; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000254:growth & development; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003481:Cuspid / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008963:Molar / Q000254:growth & development; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012737:Sex Factors; D014074:Tooth Calcification / Q000502:physiology