title: A comparison of skeletal maturation in patients with tooth agenesis and unaffected controls assessed by the cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) index.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to (1) investigate if there is a difference in skeletal maturation between tooth agenesis and control patients and (2) whether skeletal maturation is affected by the severity of tooth agenesis. The cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) index can be used to assess skeletal maturation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eastman Dental Hospital, London, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 360 cephalograms of patients aged 9-17 years (164 males and 196 females) allocated to four subgroups (mild, moderate and severe tooth agenesis patients, and controls) were assessed retrospectively. There were 90 patients in each of the four subgroups. The skeletal maturation of each subject was assessed both quantitatively and qualitatively using the CVM index. All patients in the study were either currently receiving treatment or had been discharged from the hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant relationship between skeletal maturation and the presence of tooth agenesis. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant relationship between the skeletal maturity of patients and different severities of tooth agenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data obtained from this group of patients and using this measurement tool alone does not supply sufficient reason to reject the null hypothesis. However, it suggests that it is possible that no difference exists between the groups.
authors.affiliation: C. Casey, Orthodontic Department, Eastman Dental Hospital, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, UK. christinecasey30@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: Daljit S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D000848:Anodontia / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications*; D001368:Axis, Cervical Vertebra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Cervical maturation index; tooth agenesis